Governor Wants Voters to Decide On Roads And Bridges Revenue Stream

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Governor Phil Bryant believes a long term solution to repairing roads and bridges statewide will mean some sort of tax increase that will need voter approval.

While a bill to fund road and bridge repairs in the state is gaining momentum in Jackson, Governor Bryant believes a permanent solution is needed.

The package approved by the House amends a Senate version and uses agency budget cuts, and borrowing, to fund infrastructure spending.

But Governor Bryant says voters should decide on a long term solution.

“We’re going to have to look in the future at some type of revenue stream, I have suggested in the past, as has Senator Dean Kirby from Rankin County, that we put it on the ballot, I think the people of the state of Mississippi will look forward to an opportunity to determine whether or not additional revenue is needed, it is needed and how we will go about generating that, I’m not sure the legislature will be able to make that decision,but the sovereigns, the people of the state of Mississippi might be able to do so so let’s put it on the ballot and get it moving forward,’ Gov. Bryant said.

There has been no major change in state revenue for road and bridge repair statewide since 1987.

Many highways are in need of rehabilitation.