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Gov. Nixon backs Missouri gas tax hike

Posted at 5:42 PM, Jan 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-18 11:42:17-05

Gas prices in the Kansas City area are at a record-low but those prices could soon begin to climb as state lawmakers head back to Jefferson City for the 2016 legislative session.

Earlier this month, Sen. Doug Libla, a Republican from Poplar Bluff, introduced a proposed hike to the state's gasoline tax.

Gov. Jay Nixon, a democrat, as already voiced support for it.

The proposal would raise the gas tax 1.5 cents per gallon and 3.5 cents a gallon of diesel.

Missouri's gasoline tax has been the same for nearly 20 years and ranks the fifth lowest in the country.

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"A penny and a half on gas would help," said Brian Kidwell, an assistant district engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation. "There is always something to fix and every day there is new needs. There's a new interchange, new safety improvements."

 

A portion of the revenue from the hike, if passed, would go towards MoDOT.

The department, Kidwell said, has been struggling with a lack of funds and has consequently been forced to prioritize projects.

"Prices have all gone up, labor has gone up, concrete has gone up. The system just keeps getting older," he said. "With more money we could take better care of the system that's out there and better care of the public we serve."

Missouri's legislative session begins Jan. 6.

To read the full Senate bill, click here

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Ariel Rothfield can be reached at ariel.rothfield@kshb.com.

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