Mike Tagert likened the current condition of Mississippi’s highway and bridges to a leaking roof during his visit Tuesday to the Columbus Rotary Club at Lion Hills Center.
“If you’re roof is leaking and you fix it today, it’s going to cost far less than if you wait,” said the Northern District Commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Transportation. “It’s going to cost some money to repair our roads and bridges, but the longer we wait, the more it’s going to cost.”
Tagert said a recent study by the Mississippi Economic Council, which serves as the state’s chamber of commerce, is consistent with MDOT’s own calculations. MEC is asking the Legislature find funding to provide $375 million over each of the next 10 years to make long-overdue repairs.
“Right now, we have 205 posted bridges, which means their load limit is less than what they were originally built to carry because of their condition,” Tagert said. “This is a real problem in the Delta. We have farmers who can’t get their crops out because the bridges won’t carry the weight required. But it’s a problem for everyone.”
Although Tagert deferred to the Legislature to devise the funding mechanism to cover the cost of repairs, he said one area that is worth a close look is the state’ fuel tax, which has increased since 1987.
“We rely on that fuel tax for 100 percent of our revenue,” Tagert said. “Well, just think about what you paid for things 30 years ago. Everything has gone up. Our costs have gone up. We aren’t asking for this money for discretionary things — we need it for old-fashioned work on bridges and highways.”
Tagert said the state’s current tax — $18.7 cents per gallon — is among the lowest in the nation and about 10 cents per gallon lower than the national average.
“Back in 1987, when we passed our major highway building legislation, we were ahead of most states,” he said. “Now, we’re slipping behind. Twenty-eight states have approved plans for more funding. This is something that, the sooner we deal with it, the better off we will be.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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