(KTNC) -- The Missouri Highway Commission says it's being forced to halt all new projects because of a lack of funding.
MoDOT Director Dave Nichols says because of declining fuel tax revenues added to the rising costs for materials, labor and employee benefits, the department will have to focus on maintainence and preservation.
Nichols says Missouri's budget for road and bridge construction was one-point-three billion dollars just five years ago, is nearly half that this year, and is expected to fall to a projected 325 million dollars in 2017 if revenue streams aren't increased.
There has been talk of a one-cent sales tax proposal in the legislature, but nothing has been proposed yet. A sales tax or a fuel tax increase would have to be approved by voters.
© MissouriNet
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