12/14/10-An effort to boost fuel tax revenues in Wyoming is expected to draw consideration during the 2011 regular session. The Legislature’s interim transportation panel has prefiled a bill that would phase-in a dime increase in the state’s fuel tax.
Currently, truckers and other drivers pay a 14-cent-per-gallon tax at the fuel pump. The new bill – HB22 – would increase the tax rate to 24 cents during the next three years.
The state’s 14-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel and gas would increase to 24 cents in three steps. It would rise to 17 cents the first year. It would increase another 3 cents the following year and another 4 cents in the final year of the phase-in.
Wyoming’s highway fund would get a $14 million shot in the arm during the first year. At the end of the three-year period the fund would be $91.4 million richer. Local governments would claim another $35.4 million.
Officials with the Wyoming Department of Transportation say something must be done because they don’t have enough state or federal money to maintain roadways, including Interstate 80. They predict the situation will only worsen with traffic projected to double in 30 years. Trucks account for about half of the traffic.
It is uncertain whether lawmakers will be receptive to a tax increase. Faced with flat federal funding and increased costs, however, lawmakers could be more willing to consider the option.
Out-of-state drivers, including truckers, would be the target of the proposed tax increase. WYDOT officials say that 53 percent of revenue collected from the fuel tax is paid by non-residents.
The bill can be considered during the session that begins Feb. 8, 2011.

11/22/10-With only weeks remaining in his tenure, Gov. Dave Freudenthal released his final supplemental budget request. The proposal calls for restoring money to local governments and highway funding.
Freudenthal’s supplemental budget request would provide an extra $52 million to local governments as well as $52 million for highways during the next two years.
The shot in the arm would come from the state’s Spending Policy Reserve Account. The account is funded by state severance tax revenue.
Crediting $1 billion in liquid savings, Freudenthal said it’s time to give back and restore cuts previously made to local governments and transportation.
The outgoing governor’s supplemental request is due Dec. 1. He will give his recommendations to state lawmakers two weeks later. It will then be up to the Legislature to approve the plan after the regular session convenes Jan. 11, 2011. If approved, it would be signed by Gov.-elect Matt Mead.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation would get the money for road and bridge work. Cities and counties could also choose to spend at least a portion of their funds on roads.
The governor also recommended that lawmakers take steps to ensure highways and local governments can rely on the $50 million boost every two years.
“Under our current financial circumstance, it would be appropriate to extend this allocation to highways and local governments into future years through a permanent change in the statutes,” Freudenthal said in a statement.