Plan calls for $20 billion in Minnesota transit tax hikes
Oh hello there.Higher local sales taxes, gas taxes and vehicle fees are being pushed by Gov. Mark Dayton's task force on transportation and could help shape the debate on highway and transit funding as DFLers take control of the Legislature next year.
The draft recommendations call for raising taxes by $20 billion over 20 years and for shifting transit funding from the state to metro governments.
"It will be the beginning of a lot of discussion about transportation and transit finance in the next legislative session," said Susan Haigh, chair of the Metropolitan Council, which oversees Twin Cities transit. She said recommendations were expected to go to the governor by the end of this week.
Attempts to raise money for transportation met resistance during Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration and from Republican lawmakers. But new DFL leadership of the House and Senate as well as the governor's office -- the first time in more than 20 years -- injects transportation funding proposals with new life.
Dayton created the task force a year ago amid growing calls to find new sources of revenue to pay for highways and transit. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has warned that the state faces tens of billions of dollars in shortfalls.
Despite talk of such new strategies as taxation based on the number of miles driven, the panel proposed greater use of traditional revenue sources.
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