High gas prices create highway funding issues
High gas prices create highway funding issues for state

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Published: July 14, 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY - High gasoline prices that are taking their toll on motorists are also plaguing agencies in charge of maintaining Oklahoma's roadways.

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State Transportation Director Gary Ridley said Monday that increased prices and decreased fuel consumption are creating problems with federal funding and securing materials for road projects.

Ridley says a shortfall in a federal trust fund could lead to a $4 billion shortfall nationwide, and that will trickle down to Oklahoma.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe has said the impact on the state could be $172 million.

Ridley says the high price of gasoline is also contributing to a shortage of materials such as asphalt that are needed for road projects.

He says refineries are not making as much of the materials because they're focused on maximizing their gasoline production.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

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Related Topics: Public Finance, Federal Budget, Business, Financial Markets, Government Spending, Gas Prices, Trade, Oil Prices, Commodity Markets


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I hope the price of gas does come down. However, I do not see anything that would suggest that scenario in the near future. What do you base your suggestion on? Also, don't you think that there is a possibility that having the basketball team here will generate enough residule income to more than pay for the tax breaks?
J, Anonymous - Jul 14, 2008 4:56 PM
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Once oil and gas prices fall, so will the State's gross-production tax and the oil and gas severance tax. Combined with the recent reductions in the State income tax rates, our current shortfalls will seem minor in comparison. Oh, the wailing and crying! The recriminations! The slashing of State jobs! All y'all is welcome to come watch some b-ball in the Briar Patch, though.
Brer Rabbit, Briar Patch - Jul 14, 2008 4:31 PM
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Keep lovin' this crappy state....boo hooo the legislature says, we have no money...care to bring 20-30 jobs to this state and get 60 million in tax cuts though??
paul, yukon - Jul 14, 2008 4:04 PM
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Inhofe is one of the last people I would expect to be complaining. Suppose he'll blame the revenue loss on Global warming, voodoo weathermen, and evil blasphemious scientists?
James, Oklahoma City - Jul 14, 2008 3:32 PM
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State services (medicaid, juvenile justice, corrections, adult protective services, road maintenance, etc). Also, every penny of teacher, administrator, and support staff salary in the public schools is paid out of state coffers. You might also remember that we have passed income tax cuts in last few years that mostly benefited the wealthy. These tax cuts have gutted state government. That is why even seemingly small impact budget items can have a dramatic impact on our state. Brer Rabbit is exactly correct.
J, Anonymous - Jul 14, 2008 3:17 PM
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i agree with you Deep! Its sad that the govt has to con us into more things like the maps project, the lotto, ect due to the fact that we cannot manage our money correctly! Where is all this money going??
Ashley, oklahoma city - Jul 14, 2008 3:02 PM
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All y'all should remember that there are more people living in Dallas County in Texas than are living in the STATE of Oklahoma. We also have one of the lowest per capita state tax burdens in the entire COUNTRY. So, even though this story is about a national problem, Oklahoma doesn't have many fiscal resources for gaps in funding that show up. We're a poor, small state- population wise. The Briar Patch ain't much better.
Brer Rabbit, Briar Patch - Jul 14, 2008 1:58 PM
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Yeah gimme a break. Oklahoma is the ONLY state I've ever lived in that constantly acts like it's broke.
The lottery was supposed to help education and our schools yet everytime you turn around they need MORE money and pass emergency funding to help.
Now, it's another money issue from the state.
Who is benefitting from all this money and where is the money going? Obviously not to taxpayers FOR taxpayers.
ScottsWifeBlowsMe, DeepThroats - Jul 14, 2008 1:52 PM
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Suprise.
Russell, oklahoma city - Jul 14, 2008 1:31 PM
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Take it from the oil companies, those guys are drowning in oil money!
Gary, Oklahoma City - Jul 14, 2008 1:27 PM
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