Res 2014-099/Expressing support for a Constitutional Amendment on the November 4, 2014 State Ballot to provide for additional funding for the State’s highways, roads and bridgesRes 2014-099/

Home Browse Search

RESOLUTION 2014 -99R A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE NOVEMBER 4, 2014 STATE BALLOT TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE STATE'S HIGHWAYS, ROADS AND BRIDGES; AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF THE RESOLUTION TO THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FOR ITS SUPPORT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RECITALS: 1. The 83rd Texas Legislature passed historic legislation proposing a constitutional amendment on the November 4, 2014 state ballot affecting the state's roads, highways, and bridges. 2. The ballot proposal reads: "The constitutional amendment providing for the use and dedication of certain money transferred to the state highway fund to assist in the completion of transportation construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation projects, not to include toll roads." 3. This proposal will allow revenue transferred to the state highway fund to be used only for developing public roadways, other than toll roads. 4. This would require that any funds transferred to the state highway fund be allocated by the Texas Department of Transportation consistent with existing formulas to ensure the entire state benefits from this additional funding. 5. The proposed amendment will aid in maintaining the current infrastructure and will ease congestion by funding new projects for added capacity without any new or increased taxes or fees. 6. A strong transportation system is fundamental to Texas' quality of life and economic vitality, attracting new businesses and generating new jobs. 7. State transportation funding over the past several years has been supplemented by bond programs and those bond programs are now exhausted and have resulted in a significant level of debt for Texas. 8. The current state budget includes approximately $5 billion per year in construction funding and will, based on current revenue projections, drop to only $2.5 billion in available funds for construction for the next biennium. 9. According to the latest report of the 2030 Committee formed by the Chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, approximately $6.1 billion per year in construction funding is needed to achieve "worst possible" conditions and $9.5 billion per year is needed to achieve "minimally competitive" conditions.