The Idaho state House and Senate transportation committees this week discussed proposals on how to raise funds for the state's roads and bridges, including boosting fees on commercial truckers.

"Years of putting off needed maintenance and repairs already has left us nearly a quarter billion dollars a year behind," said Gov. Butch Otter in a statement last week. "We must commit ourselves to a long-term, sustained solution that addresses today's needs and anticipates tomorrow's." Otter believes raising the state gas tax, however, is not the answer, and 72 percent of state residents in a survey commissioned by the Associated General Contractors of Idaho said the same. Two-thirds also said the Legislature should raise the money needed to maintain and improve roads and bridges.
The Otter administration believes user fees are a good way to go. According to the Associated Press, the largest part of Otter's proposal is raising registration fees on personal vehicles to a flat fee of $150 a year. Otter also wants to gradually boost fees on commercial truckers. He hasn't proposed specific legislation, but is working with lawmakers and the trucking industry to come up with a package that would accomplish his goal of bringing in $50 million a year by 2011.