4/1/03-Gov. Bob Taft signed legislation March 31 raising the price of fuel in the state 2 cents a gallon as of July 1.
The bill also lowers the legal threshold for drunken driving from a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent to 0.08, as mandated by federal law.
The bill will raise the fuel tax 6 cents a gallon to 28 cents over the next three years. In the third year, however, if the federal government meets certain highway funding goals, the state would reduce up to 2 cents of the increase.
It also phases out the current 3-cent diesel fuel surcharge, beginning in 2005.
When combined with hikes in vehicle registration fees and drivers’ licenses, the Ohio Transportation Department estimated it would generate $580 million more a year solely for road projects.

3/27/03-The Ohio House and Senate approved the state's $4.7 billion transportation budget on March 26.
The bill now goes to the governor for his signature.
The two-year budget plan would raise the state's fuel tax 6 cents a gallon over the next three years. In the third year, however, if the federal government meets certain highway funding goals, the state would reduce up to 2 cents of the increase.
It would also phase out the 3-cent diesel fuel surcharge, beginning in 2005.
The new budget would increase the 22-cent-a-gallon fuel tax by 2 cents a year through 2005. The increase would raise $402 million annually solely for road projects.
When combined with proposed hikes in vehicle registration fees and drivers' licenses, the Ohio Transportation Department estimated it would generate $580 million more a year.
The bill would lower the drunken driving standard from 0.10 percent blood alcohol content to 0.08 percent, as mandated by a 2000 federal law.

3/26/03-The Ohio Senate on March 25 voted in favor of a bill raising the state's fuel tax 6 cents a gallon over the next three years.
The two-year transportation budget - approved by a 20 to 12 vote - would also phase out the 3-cent diesel fuel surcharge by 2006.
The state's $4.7 billion construction budget would increase the 22-cents-a-gallon fuel tax by 2 cents a year through 2005. The increase would raise $402 million annually solely for road projects.
When combined with proposed hikes in vehicle registration fees and drivers' licenses, the Ohio Transportation Department estimated it would generate $580 million more a year.
A joint House-Senate conference committee was scheduled to meet March 26 to hammer out a compromise. House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, told The Toledo Blade a bill could reach Gov. Bob Taft later in the day.
The bill would lower the legal threshold for drunken driving from a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent to 0.08, as mandated by a 2000 federal law. The state would lose 2 percent of its federal highway aid if it fails to lower the standard.

3/25/03-Ohio's transportation budget likely will include the full 6-cent-a-gallon fuel tax hike sought by Gov. Bob Taft.
Late last week, Senate Republicans abandoned a plan to cancel one-third of the House-proposed increase if the federal government agreed to help with highway funds.
The state's budget bill, which legislative leaders want ready for Taft's signature by the end of the week, would increase the state's 22-cents-a-gallon fuel tax by 2 cents a year through 2005. The increase would raise $402 million annually for highway construction.
The Senate Highways and Transportation Committee is expected to vote on the budget early this week. The bill would then go to the full Senate.

3/24/03-The Ohio Senate is expected to vote this week to cancel one-third of a proposed 6-cent fuel tax hike if the federal government helps with highway funds.
The Republican-led chamber also plans to eliminate the 3-cent diesel fuel surcharge.
The proposed fuel tax, which would increase 2 cents a year through 2005, would have ultimately raised $402 million more a year solely for road projects. When combined with proposed hikes in vehicle registration fees and drivers' licenses, the state Transportation Department hoped it would generate $580 million more a year.
If the state talks the U.S. Congress into providing it with at least $130 million more a year in highway aid, roughly what the final 2-cent component of the state fuel tax would generate, the increase would be eliminated under the Senate plan.
The bill is likely to end up in a joint conference committee to broker a compromise between the House and Senate versions.
The diesel differential would be phased out at the rate of a penny a year, costing ODOT $35 million each year.
Senators also plan to drop a proposed vehicle-titling fee and instead raise driver's license fees and annual vehicle registration fees.
The bill includes an amendment lowering the state's blood-alcohol limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08. A 2000 federal law requires each state's legislature to adopt the 0.08 limit by 2004 or lose 2 percent of its highway aid.

3/13/03-The Ohio House has approved the state's $4.7 billion transportation budget.
The bill would increase the state's fuel tax 2 cents a year for three years and also boost vehicle registration fees and drivers' licenses and lower the threshold for drunken driving.
The budget bill, approved by the House 63 to 34 on March 12, now heads to the Senate for consideration.
An increase of 2 cents a year through 2005 would make Ohio's fuel tax, at 28 cents, the highest in the region. When fully implemented, it would raise $402 million more a year solely for highway projects.
Significant hikes in driver's licenses, registration and vehicle titling fees would raise another $177 million for a total of $579 million.
The Ohio Highway Patrol, which now uses 2.9 cents of the fuel tax, would be gradually transferred to the fees as a funding source, freeing up its share of the fuel tax for local projects.
Conceding to federal pressure, an amendment to the bill lowers the state's blood-alcohol limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08.
A 2000 federal law requires each state's legislature to adopt the 0.08 limit by 2004 or lose 2 percent of its highway aid.
Ohio reportedly would lose $49 million in federal money by 2006 if it does not lower the limit.
The Senate, which began its hearings on the bill March 11, has six session days to pass the bill before the constitutional deadline of March 31.

1/27/03-Ohio Gov. Bob Taft unveiled a plan Jan. 24 to boost the state's fuel tax, driver's license fees and vehicle registration costs to help fund highway projects.
The plan would increase the state fuel tax by 2 cents a year for three years, according to a statement from the governor's office. The current tax is 22 cents a gallon.
Taft also wants drivers to pay $5 more to get a license, $5 more to register a vehicle and $15 more to change titles when purchasing a vehicle. After three years, the increase would bring in an additional $402 million in new transportation funds.
Eventually, these fees would completely fund the State Highway Patrol, freeing up about $175 million in fuel taxes for more roadwork. Without the tax increase, Taft said the transportation budget would bleed dry in two years.
State lawmakers would have to approve any proposed increases.

12/31/02-A state revenue crunch has Ohio officials looking to the fuel pump and vehicle paperwork fees to help fund road projects. Without either an increase in state funding or an increase from the federal government, it's a "distinct possibility" the state will run out of money for new road construction projects by 2006, Brian Cunningham, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation, told the Coshocton Tribune.
The task force, made up of state and local lawmakers, state agency officials and representatives of transportation interests, has recommended the state raise its fuel tax and increase vehicle paperwork fees to help deal with substantial needs for road and bridge repair, the newspaper reported.
Gov. Bob Taft has stopped short of committing to a fuel tax increase but noted that if nothing were done, road construction money would disappear.