Published: February 05, 2008 08:12 am      

Hoosiers don't need or want gas tax hikes

A gasoline tax used to be a viable method of collecting funds for road maintenance and repair.

It is a user fee, which is collected from drivers who travel the highways and contribute to the wear and tear on the roadways.

But Gov. Mitch Daniels is urging Indiana’s congressional delegation to oppose a federal gas tax increase if a proposal comes up for a vote.

The reason is simple. The lease of the Indiana Toll Road has provided enough transportation funds for the state for the foreseeable future, and there is no reason Hoosiers should cough up additional gas taxes.

The last time there was a state gas tax increase, state officials retained the lion’s share of the extra revenue and there wasn’t enough that trickled down to local units of government.

Additionally, Indiana receives just 92 cents of every dollar paid in federal gas tax money because the distribution formula is not weighted in the state’s favor. So it’s illogical to consider adding a gas tax and receiving less than a 100 percent share.

The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission members issued a report this month suggesting that federal gas taxes should be increased by up to 40 cents per gallon over five years to help fix aging bridges and roads and reduce traffic deaths.

But Indiana officials have taken steps to address their own problems, and Hoosiers shouldn’t be forced to accept gas tax increases they neither want or need.

It is understandable that other states may need additional infrastructure funds, but Indiana should collectively be given credit for solving its own problems.