https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Public Works & Utilities


Highway funding crisis facing the U.S.

Highway funding crisis facing the U.S.

Don Kuchta, mayor of Macedonia, Ohio, argues that motorists driving energy-efficient vehicles aren't paying their fair share for highway maintenance and upkeep.
  • Written by Don Kuchta
  • 26th July 2011

Editor’s note: Don Kuchta, mayor of Macedonia, Ohio, offers his views (below) on the state of highway funding in the United States. In the preface to his remarks, the mayor said: “The February 2011 issue of Government Product News (the sister publication of govpro.com) caught my eye when it headlined fuel-efficient trucks. Fuel efficiency has to be a consideration for every municipality there is. Saving money to keep the services we perform for our residents is tough. Every part of local municipal government is economically tough!

“There is a flip side to the gas efficiency coin, though. When I became mayor eight years ago, I inherited tons of debt and a crumbling infrastructure. We had a 105-year-old railroad bridge on our main road, and arterial roads that had not been fixed since Kennedy was president! State and federal taxes on gasoline [have] allowed me to attack our roadblocks, and I am just going to be starting the construction of my second bridge.

“The pot for gas tax funding as the source of road repairs continues to get smaller. We can’t let that happen in America. Our roads and bridges are deteriorating, and we must not let them go to ruin.”

Highway funding crisis facing the U.S.

By Don Kuchta

Highway robbery upsets me.

Let me explain.

Every time you buy a gallon of gas, it includes federal and state taxes that are designated to our roads — not your street and my street, but main roads. That system worked very well until the federal government put the squeeze on automobile manufacturers to improve their gas mileage in the 1970s. They did their best to comply. We have used less fossil fuel and saved a ton of money in our wallets since they did that. Thank you!

Yeah, but….as miles per gallon soared, gallons purchased and used plunged. Money for the much-needed maintenance and repairs in the pot for bridges and highways is dwindling fast. How does that affect you and me? We are in a recession partly because of the roadwork not being done and the trickle effect. When roads are being built in Macedonia, Ohio, it brings money to you and me in the form of city income taxes. Most of the jobs involved with building roads are good-paying jobs, so that is actually bigger bucks than retail sales where employees earn minimum or almost minimum wages. The construction workers may even buy lunch in our town, or gas, or socks at Walmart, or an anniversary present from Basch Jewelers. Doing that keeps the need for [hiring] employees up. That’s a good thing.

But the sad part is that as the world evolves, the gasoline engine is the enemy. I am not anti “green.” I have grandchildren. I want to leave them an Earth that is as clean as possible. But, as the money to pay for highway construction dwindles, so does our infrastructure, and so does the economy.

So, can somebody tell me why there are cars driving on roads built and maintained by state and federal gas taxes, that pay nothing? That is why I called it highway robbery. There are cars that are part electric and part gas. There are vehicles that burn fuels other than gas, i.e., propane and natural gas. And now, totally electric cars that supposedly don’t burn fossil fuels. (But, if you ever watch “Modern Marvels” or shows like them, you know that most of the electricity in this country is generated by the use of oil or coal!)

Maybe instead of spending millions of federal dollars to develop cars that don’t burn gas, we had better rethink this to get back the ability to take care of roads and bridges. There must be a way to fairly share this burden that most of us carry, so that all of us share the cost. We need to find the solution that will stop the highway robbery and bring back JOBS!

Don Kuchta is mayor of Macedonia, Ohio, and president of the Summit County Mayor’s Association. His e-mail is [email protected]. The city of Macedonia’s website is http://macedonia.oh.us

Editor’s note: Govpro.com has written about fuel-efficient vehicles, including
hybrid trucks in California,
hybrids in federal fleets and the
challenges of alternative fuels.

Tags: News Public Works & Utilities

Most Recent


  • Amid spike, federal transportation department launches initiative to curb traffic-related deaths
    While stay-at-home orders might be a thing of the past, the pandemic’s impact is still felt daily through expectations to socially distance, the prevalence of masks in high risk areas like hospitals, and the stubbornly high annual rate of traffic-related deaths. Traffic fatalities hit a 16-year high in 2021, and preliminary data points to a […]
  • Report: Some public employees face financial hardship; comprehensive pay packages proved 'a pathway toward economic security'
    Many who work in public service, in professions that center around helping others, are themselves struggling to make ends meet and face financial hardship. Addressing these needs, the public employers they work for are well positioned to help them out, according to a report published Thursday by the MissionSquare Research Institute, “Examining the Financial Wellbeing […]
  • These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future
    From smart devices to electric vehicles, the success of technological advancements rely on municipal grids and infrastructure. Some cities are better equipped for the future than others. A new analysis from the tech company ProptechOS ranks the top 10 American cities best positioned for a “smart city future.” “But new technologies can only support us […]
  • Report: With increasing popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters, there's a need for 'safe and connected infrastructure'
    Electric scooters and e-bikes are rising in popularity. As transportation options diversify, local policymakers are beginning to integrate micromobility means as integral fixtures in transportation networks and climate action plans, given their health and climate benefits. But along with solutions, they’re also bringing with them a slew of hurdles. A report out of Oregon highlights […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • VCPWA Water and Sanitation to install money-saving battery energy storage system
  • 10 reasons why local governments should outsource all IT: Post pandemic view
  • How local governments can improve bridge projects through strategic engagement
  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report

White papers


Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022

Helping Government Fleets Achieve Their Goals

30th September 2022
view all

Webinars


How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022

Learn the benefits of transforming and automating your Contract Management process

4th November 2022
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future

1st February 2023

Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand

26th January 2023

10 American cities with a great downtown

24th January 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Amid spike, federal transportation department launches initiative to curb traffic-related deaths dlvr.it/Shvs31

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Engaging businesses to strengthen your community dlvr.it/ShvZn0

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: Some public employees face financial hardship; comprehensive pay packages proved ‘a pathway toward economic… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

2nd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Strategic Budgeting for Modern Government dlvr.it/ShrHmD

2nd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future dlvr.it/Shp7sH

1st February 2023
AmerCityCounty

How public health can build a “one health” infrastructure for the future dlvr.it/ShnlKm

1st February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Four Steps to Better Municipal Fleet Fuel Purchasing dlvr.it/ShnbWP

1st February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: With increase popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters, there’s a need for ‘safe and connected infrastructure’ dlvr.it/ShlKmJ

31st January 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.