A New Gas Tax Could Mean Better Roads

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall says Mississippi does not have enough money to maintain our roadways. He has proposed a 10-cent gas hike.

“Exxon can go up 10 cents over night and you don’t get anything for it, I’m telling you if you give us a dime, we’ll fix the pot hole that is right outside your house,” said Hall

However he does not expect his proposal to pass this year.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you I think it will pass this year, but I want the conversation started. I want everyone to realize how serious this situation is. When it all falls apart, then we no longer get the looks from the Toyotas and Nissans and so forth. I’m going to stand there and say, I told you so. They are not going to look at us, they aren’t even going to consider us if we don’t have the kind of transpiration system they’ve got to have,” said Hall.

Currently the Mississippi Gas tax sits at 18.4 cents on the gallon. According to hall that is the seventh lowest gas tax in the nation. The last time the gas tax was increased was 1987.

Mississippians were asked if they would be willing to pay more for better roads.