Higher gas taxes, more costly car registration fees, and even new taxes altogether are on the table as lawmakers debate a request to give the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) more than $1.7 billion in additional funding in the state’s next two-year budget.
ODOT says the money would allow it to improve the state's roads and bridges and focus more on maintenance and operations.
The legislature's Joint Transportation Committee will put together a funding package for ODOT. Gov. Tina Kotek's requested biennial budget included about $350 million in funding to allow ODOT to maintain current operations and roughly $1.3 billion in new funding; the governor left it up to lawmakers to settle on funding options.
READ MORE: https://katu.com/news/local/lawmakers-consider-tax-hikes-fees-to-fund-roads-and-bridges-in-oregon-budget-talks-gas-money-politics-kotek-mcclain-gorsek-family-cost-starr-grove-oregonians
KATU's Steve Dunn talked with Governor Kotek about the funding for ODOT in a sitdown interview at the Oregon Capitol.
KATU anchors Wright Gazaway and Debora Knapp also discussed the issue on arc.
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