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Highway commissioners discuss bond election Thursday, Apr 12, 2007 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - State Highway Commission members said Wednesday they were not sure whether to ask the governor to place a $575 million interstate highway bond package before voters during a special election or the 2008 general election. "I think this is an issue that the public is going to have input on," Commissioner Cliff Hoofman of North Little Rock said during a commission meeting. "I think probably it would behoove us to probably talk to our own folks ... who can give us some suggestions so that the commission might take some formal action with regard to a recommendation to the governor," Hoofman said. "Hopefully it will get back out there at some point in time and be something that will be positive," Commission Chairman Jonathan Barnett of Siloam Springs said, adding that the issue should be more fully discussed at next month's meeting. A similar measure supported by then-Gov. Mike Huckabee failed in a December 2005 special election under heavy criticism of a provision that would have allowed the commission to continue to extend debt without a public vote. Act 511 of the recently recessed legislative session authorized the governor to call a special election or place a measure on the next general election ballot that would renew a 1999 interstate highway improvement bond program. The bonds would be financed by anticipated future appropriations of federal highway dollars, and with the state's 4-cents-a-gallon diesel tax. A provision requires that all bonds be issued by Dec. 31, 2013. Also during Wednesday's meeting, state Highway Director Dan Flowers said $56 million in state General Improvement Fund money appropriated during the legislative session has been placed in state Highway and Transportation Department accounts and will be used to resurface and improve state highways across the state. "We envision having at least one project in each county," Flowers said. The Legislature appropriated $80 million for roadway improvement in the state, with 70 percent, or $56 million, going to the highway department and 30 percent, or $24 million, being split between cities and counties. Flowers said the resurfacing projects are an important part of preserving the highway system. "It's a very cost effective way of extending the life of our pavement," he added. Because of inadequate funds and great needs, there would not have been any state roadway resurfacing projects this year without the General Improvement Fund money, commissioner Madison Murphy said. Flowers said bids on some of the state highway resurfacing projects could be accepted as early as next month. Also Wednesday, Christine Kefauver, a consultant with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, thanked the commissioners for the work they did in getting the Legislature to amend the Regional Mobility Authority Act of 2005. The amended version allows counties and cities flexibility in addressing regional transportation issues. Under the legislation, a county or groups of neighboring counties can create a regional transportation entity capable of creating toll roads or building highways, bridges, bike paths, tunnels and other transportation projects. The act also allows the regional authorities to go before voters to establish toll roads and any initial toll fees. Also, the measure allows the authorities to increase or decrease fees without voter approval. After the commission meeting, Kefauver said county quorum courts must first approve ordinances creating the authorities. Members must then be appointed. "That is very important for the future of maintaining our interstate highway system and hopefully that will be successful," Flowers said. |
