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House: Raise tax on gas, fix roads Senate might not pass 6-cent-a-gallon boost By PETER WONG SALEM -- The Oregon House approved higher gasoline taxes Thursday for road repairs and highway projects, including a potential $62 million in state projects for Medford. House approval by the required 60 percent majority, with no votes to spare, suggests that it may face a rougher road in the Senate, which killed two similar increases two years ago. New money? Here is how much more cities could expect in state gas taxes and vehicle registration fees over the next four years, based on House Bill 2082: Medford : $2,620,827 Ashland : $855,290 Central Point : $500,552 Talent : $224,725 Grants Pass : $916,255 "I can live with it, because at this point, we need anything we can get," said Rep. Judy Uherbelau, D-Ashland. "My concern is about what will happen in the Senate, which played games with this issue in 1997." House Bill 2082, which passed 36-24, would raise Oregon's 24-cent tax by 6 cents per gallon in two steps by Jan. 1. The vehicle registration fee, which is charged every two years, would go from $30 to $40. Among the coalition of conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats opposing the bill was Rep. Jason Atkinson, R-Jacksonville, who said it could have been better if it also had repealed the weight-mile tax on trucks. A House committee rejected a proposed substitution of a diesel tax and higher truck registration fees, but the Senate may revive it as its condition for a tax increase. Atkinson said he doubted he would have voted for the bill anyway. "I came here interested in cutting taxes, not passing new ones," he said. "We can find the money for roads in the budget." But Rep. Richard Devlin, D-Tualatin, said road improvements are worth the cost. "I think our constituents are going to notice the potholes in our roads and traffic congestion far more than they are a 6-cent increase," he said. Of the 6-cent increase, a third would support $600 million in bonds for highway projects. Four Medford projects are among the $725 million in projects statewide that the Oregon Department of Transportation says would qualify. The expansion of the south Medford interchange with Interstate 5 is estimated at $15 million; the next two phases of the north Medford interchange, $38 million, and the linkage between Highway 62 and Highway 238 in west Medford, $9 million. "I am not encouraged about it passing the Senate," said Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, who voted for the bill. "But it is a highly innovative package that funds many important projects, including the south interchange. We cannot provide jobs for Southern Oregon without this proposal for improvements within the city of Medford." Without the new money from higher taxes, ODOT now plans to spend about $56 million annually for the next four years on highway modernization projects. Of the $226 million total, $18 million is for the first phase of the north Medford interchange, mostly from federal grants; $11.5 million for the first phase of the Highway 62-238 linkage; $2.7 million for the Fern Valley Road interchange, and $763,000 for ramp work at the south Medford interchange. The Legislature would not pick the projects. Based on community comment and geographic distribution, ODOT and the Oregon Transportation Commission would develop a list and submit it to the Emergency Board, which meets between legislative sessions. "So we can say here is what you as a motorist will be buying with this increase," said Rep. Ken Strobeck, R-Beaverton, the bill's floor manager. "We are taking a list of projects already identified by state and local planners as the most important needs for Oregon." The rest of the money from increased taxes and fees would enable cities, counties and the state to catch up on road and bridge repairs. The Oregon Constitution reserves the money for road work. Strobeck echoed comments made two years ago by then-Rep. John Watt, a Republican from Medford who led the failed 1997 efforts to pass a gas-tax increase. "When it is going to be cheaper?" Strobeck asked. "It is never going to be cheaper." New gas tax revenue? Here is how much more each of five Rogue Valley cities can expect in state gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees, based on House Bill 2082, for road repairs in the next four years. The figures are based on 1998 population estimates; actual payments are based on population projections. Medford (pop. 58,895): $270,917 in 1999-2000; $971,767 in 2000-01; $789,193 in 2001-02; $588,950 in 2002-03. Ashland (19,220): $88,412 in 1999-2000; $317,130 in 2000-01; $257,548 in 2001-02; $192,200 in 2002-03. Central Point (11,255): $51,773 in 1999-2000; $185,707 in 2000-01; $150,817 in 2001-02; $112,255 in 2002-03. Talent (5,050): $23,230 in 1999-2000; $83,325 in 2000-01; $67,670 in 2001-02; $50,500 in 2002-03. Grants Pass (20,590): $94,714 in 1999-2000; $339,735 in 2000-01; $275,906 in 2001-02; $205,900 in 2002-03. Other Rogue Valley cities of less than 5,000 population, in addition to the per-capita increases they will receive in the next four years, qualify for state grants from the small-cities program. Sources: League of Oregon Cities; Portland State University Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA