Members of the Highway 67 Corporation recently issued a resolution in support of Proposition D, a measure that would increase the state motor fuel tax in an effort to generate more money for state and local roadways.
The corporation is comprised of community members who helped pass a local sales tax to support the four-laning of Highway 67 between Poplar Bluff and Fredericktown.
Members are part of an effort to get funding for interstate upgrades to sections of highways 60 and 67 between the Arkansas state line, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston. These roadways have already been designated as a future Interstate 57 route.
"We feel the passage of Prop D gives us a better opportunity in the future for I-57 to become a reality," said corporation Chairman Tom Lawson. "If it fails on Nov. 6, we will have to work extra hard to make I-57 happen."
The resolution notes Missouri voters will have the final say on this measure, adding the corporation "strongly supports Proposition D to raise funds for the safety and economy of our great state."
If approved by a simple majority, the motor fuel tax would raise by 2.5 cents each year, for four years.
The current 17-cent tax would be 27 cents, when fully implemented.
The current fuel tax is nearly the lowest in the nation, ranking 49th. Adjusted for inflation, it has the buying power of about 7 cents in 1996 dollars, the last time an increase was approved, corporation members said.
"(Prop D) will raise local government transportation revenue for Missouri's counties and cities and help our local governments tackle aging infrastructure," the resolution reads.
After the tax is fully implemented, Butler County is expected to receive nearly $660,000 a year in new money and the city of Poplar Bluff almost $268,000 annually, it goes on to state.
About 30 percent of the fuel purchased in the state comes from visitors and non-residents, said Bill Robison of Smith & Co., a corporation member.
Proponent of the measure, SaferMo, reports for every $1 spent on highway construction, $4 of economic activity is generated, he said.
Arkansas is making progress on designating a route and funding for I-57 improvements starting at the Missouri state line, and now is looking to see what residents here do, Lawson added.
Fuel tax money pays for the enforcement of highway laws by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the cost of collecting the tax, with remaining money split between statewide and local road and bridge projects.
Members of the Highway 67 Corporation also include: Mark Massingham, Poplar Bluff city manager; Carroll Rainwater, Greenville mayor; Joey McLane of First Midwest Bank; former Butler County Coroner Larry Cotrell; Scott Spencer of Sterling Bank; Eric Schalk of Gamblin Lumber; Alan Buttry of Buttry Construction; Harold Ellinghouse, former Wayne County newspaper publisher; and Doug Bagby, former Poplar Bluff city manager.
Former members of the committee are Jim Belknap, Roger Baldwin and Buddy Bess.