Idaho Road Funding Has Fallen Close to 20%

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Total highway spending in Idaho has dropped nearly 20 percent in recent years, a dip that has compounded the state's road funding problems and added urgency for lawmakers seeking a solution.

One of the major reasons for the drop is an 8 percent decline in federal money. This reduction mirrors a national trend in which decreasing federal dollars have stalled road upkeep across the country, according to a review of data from The Associated Press. A governor's task force said in 2010 that Idaho faced a $262 million annual shortfall just to maintain the state's roads.

The House Transportation and Defense Committee has introduced a plan to close the gap by raising gas taxes and registration fees. Republican leadership is working on another plan that would raise the sales tax.