UDOT funding gap unlikely to get fixed

The Utah Department of Transportation is facing a shortfall in its maintenance budget for fiscal year 2006 -- and lawmakers are concerned they can't fix the funding gap.

"I think we're between a rock and a hard spot as to what we do with the budget," said Rep. David Ure, R-Kamas, during a transportation budget meeting Wednesday. "Unless we have a lot of draw from the caucuses as a whole, I don't know if we can stick a lot more in the budget."

Maintenance, which cost $95 million last fiscal year, is one of UDOT's most costly functions, taking nearly half of its annual budget. The Legislative Fiscal Analyst is recommending that UDOT receive nearly $700,000 less than last fiscal year.

While the governor's office is recommending $35 million in one- time funding, a representative from the governor's office of planning and budget was unsure where that money would go if approved. "I know it is a priority for him," said Joe Brown. "I think he's hoping economic development will bring more money to the state." UDOT director John Njord warned that without an increase in funding, the state's road system would reach a critical state of disrepair. Within the next decade, he said, 500 of the state's 700 bridges will be due for repair -- and with current funding levels, only 150 can be fixed.

"Be assured the department of transportation, under the governor's direction, will hold this (system) together," he said. "But there are enormous challenges in our future."

The Wasatch Front Regional Council, transportation planner for the Wasatch Front, predicts that $4.1 billion is needed for state road projects over the next 10 years. HB18, which has yet to be debated, provides a way for the state to get at least half of that needed funding -- primarily through a shift of general fund monies to transportation. Sen. Mike Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, expressed concern with the reluctance of lawmakers to discuss transportation funding options. "You're not going to offer a gas tax increase," he told members of the committee. "I'm not going to offer a gas tax increase, but I think we need to discuss" funding.

If nothing is given now, said Waddoups, lawmakers will be left with a big funding burden in the future. "If we have to do that all (funding) in one year down the road," he said, "our constituents are going to eat us alive."

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com

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