ORDER NO. 19879 CONFIRMATION OF RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION On this the 9th day of October 1990, came on to be considered by the Court a Resolution in support of the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation urging the 72nd Legislature to address the problem of diminishing highway construction funds and take such action as necessary to assure that sufficient funds are available over the next decade to meet the mobility needs of the people of Texas. On motion made by Commissioner Baldwin, seconded by Commissioner Holekamp, the Court unanimously approved by e vote of 5 to 0 to sign and approve the resolution, a copy of which is attached and made a part hereof. oq co~~~ r ,~ ~ tk ~ o rE x ~,s DANNY R. EDWARDS COUNTY JUDQE, KERB COUNTY KERRVILIE, TEXAS 78028 PHONE: 512-257-8711 October 11, 1990 Ms. Karen A. Johnson, Director of Public Affairs Texas Good Roads/Transportation Association 400 West 15th, Suite 417 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Ms. Johnson: Enclosed please find a copy oft our Resolution which was passed in Commissioners' Court session October 9, 1990; regarding the highway funding crisis. Should you need any additional information, please advise. Sincerely, G~c.~t/ DAN R. EDWARDS County Judge DRE/lr • Pl FASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND SEVEN COPIES OF THIS REOUESTAND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT_ MADE BY: Karen A. Johnson MEETING DATE: October 9, 1990 SUBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC): Department's funding crisis. OFFICE: Texas Good Roads/Transportation Assoc. TIME PREFERRED: Consider Resolution showing support for the Highway ESTIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: IF PERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE: NAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT (received by mail) Time for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted In accordance with Article 6252- 17 Is as fol lows: • Meetings held on second Monday: 12:00 P. M. previous Wednesday • Meetings held on Thursdays: 5:00 P. M. previous Thursday. If preferable, Agenda Requests may be made on office stationery with the above information attached. THIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: THIS REQUEST RECE IVE D ON: LR 9-27-90 All Agenda Requests w111 be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine If adequate information has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of Court meetings. Your cooperation w111 be appreciated and contribute towards your request being addressed at the earliest opportunity. ~.~s o Lu7ti~ N WHEREAS: the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation has reported that nearly 60 percent of the mobility needs of Texas cannot be met over the next 10 years; and, WHEREAS: this serious shortfall will cause many approved projects to be delayed or cancelled, critically affecting the safety and mobility of the motorists of Texas at a time the state is recovering from its economic downturn and expecting a surge of new growth; and, WHEREAS: the Department has rightly placed its highest priority on maintaining and preserving our existing highway system, meaning that funds for added capacity will be in short supply unless the Legislature and other state leaders respond to this growing problem; and WHEREAS: the Legislature should especially consider the fact that only 9 1/4 cents of the 15 cents motor fuels tax goes to highway construction and maintenance, the remainder being transferred to the public school system, the Department of Public Safety, employee benefits, and other non-highway uses; and WHEREAS: the Chairman and members of the Highway Commission have detailed the need for additional funding and made it clear that the impact of the shortfall will be felt in all parts of Texas, rural and urban NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Kerr County Commissioners' Court requests that the 72nd Legislature address the problem of diminishing highway construction funds and take such action as necessary to assure that sufficient funds are available over the next decade to meet the mobility needs of the people of Texas. SIGNED this 9th day of October, 19 D NNY R. EDWARDS County Judge R. GORDON MORGAN County Commissioner, Precinct #1 GLENN K. HOLEKAMP COUNTY COMMISSIONS , PREC T #3 BILL, RAY County Commissi er, ct #2 . / ii-~ 11 A" i H. A. "Buster" BALDV~IV County Commissioner, Precinct #4 SEP 2 `( i9yG ~A.;nn.n ROBERT C. IANIER Houston CHARLES 0 KIRKHAM. JR Yqa-Rpidan! RONALD E. HALE Bryan Tirasurw• KEITH SMITH Aufdn Pap CAanrn • LANOON ALFORD • CHARLES DEVALL Kilpora DAVID GLASS Pam Jurwtion • OIGK HARRIS AmYiAO • CHARLES F. HAWN AIIKKM • JACK JEFFREY Walb • RAY M. KECK. JR. LaraOo MARRY LEDBETTER Fort Worts • WADE LORENZ Stodldala • OLNER THOMAS Lu00xk • FRRZ TMOMPSON Exacvris Canm/fM M. RAYMOND BECK, JR. fraspon ZACK BURKETT, III GrIInaT STEWART FISCHER s.n Antonio GLEN FORD CECIL HOLLOWAY San Antonio KEITH KELLER Fnaericasbury MYLE$ MdLEMIE J. HEAL MILLER, JR Austin JULIAN NUNNALLY RICK PATTERSCTI a~ JAMES D. PITCOCK, JR HIwsODn JERE RUFF LOrpviaw OSCAR SJERVEN Tyler ROBERT STMUSER HOw1pn JOFIN R. WEISMAN Hunlw JOHN D. WOFiLEV RidyrMon F.M. YOUNG Waco DEAN LVK;EK LICK BURKETT JOE M. DEALEY Oaatl LUTFIER DaBERRY Lulkin J.C. DINGWALL L.P. GILYIN REAGAN HOUSTON San Antonio JACK KEESE Caaapa Station W.E. (AAACK) MdCEMIE Austin FRANK H. NEWNAM, JR. Houabn CHARLES E. $MSONS Austln BN.L SNELLGROYE 1lorsasnoa RUSSELL RSTENBER6 Houston R.o. WILSON Da14s S4M LAWRENCE OLSEN ExsaNh Ywa-PrNidNN KAREN JOHNSON OiracAx of Public M4Ya MARJIE ENNIS SwnaWYiRacrPebnial Mpgrary MarnEara TEXAS u00D ROADS/TRANSPOkTATION ASSOCIATION ~pRlTq ~~AS TexA ~o,~r 400 West 15th, Suite 417 Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 478-9351 September 19, 1990 The Honorable Danny Kerr County Judge County Courthouse Kerrville, Tx. 78028 Dear Judge Edwards: Edwards As you may be aware, the highway department is facing a drastic funding shortfall this year. Traditionally the department has been able to meet 70% of their needs. This year, only 43% of our transportation needs will be meet. There are several reasons for this shortfall. Inflation, the increasing cost of right of way and diversion of our funds to the Department of Public Safety have all contributed to the reduction of funds available. We need your help in solving this crisis. Enclosed is a resolution describing the highway department's funding crisis. We are asking for all chambers of commerce, commissioners' court and cities to show their support for our transportation needs. Please pass this resolution and send us a copy. If additional background materials are needed, please contact me at 512/478-9351. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, /~ Karen A. Johnson Director of Public Affairs F:~CTS The present motor fuels taY or user fee-fs 15 cents in Te:caas; 38 other states have a higher rate and two other states are at the same level. The Te.:as Constitution dedicates 25 percent of the motor fuels revenue to the public school system. In addition, the Legislature is presently funding about 80 percent of the casts of the Te.Yas Department of Public Saiery from the F-:ighway r und. The public sc.'~ools automatically receive t~Ze equivalent of 3.75 cents of the IS- c~nt taY. der rere::ue from the re:nairing I I.25 cents goes into the Highway Fund, the Le~islatur~ approprates the equivaIe.^.t of 2 cents to the Depart.^ient of Public Safety. Thus. only 9 1/=1 ce.^.ts of the 15-cent motcr fuels ta.Y goes to highway corst<-uc~~on and maintenance. Corsequeatly. it is accurate co state chat stightIy more [har. 60°'0 of the prese.^.t r.:eter fuel ta.: is de~~ote3 to actual rrainte::ance, re^abilicatior, a^d censtruc:ion of t::~ s.steri. HIGAWAY NEED Because of budgetary constraints and other vital state priorities. Te~cas has never funded 100 percent of its demonstrated highway, needs. Traditionally, about 70 percent of these needs have been met. Today, because of a funding shortfall despite two increases in the motor fuels tax during the 1980's. sufficient funds are in sight to meet only 43 percent of mobility projects in the 10-year plan of the Te.~cas Department of Highways and Public Transportation. The Te.eas Highway Commission has approved $20 billion in mobility projects for the 1990's. An additional 55.5 billion must be spent to preserve the system. At the current level of funding, about ~ 11.5 billion of the state's added capacity needs will not be funded. Why has this shortfall occurred? 1. Nearly 5220 million of Highway Fund revenue support activities unrelated to building and maintaining highways, not counting the publtc school system's constitutional entitlement to 25 percent of motor fuels revenues. (See FaCTS.) 2. Five years ago, highway money funded 18 percent of the direct costs of the Department of Public Safety. This biennium the Legislature has appropriated 80 percent of DPS costs from the Highway Fund. 3. The first priority is to preserve the highway system through routine maintenance and major rehabilitation work, Ieaving little to add ne~.v lanes or build new roadways. ~. Allo~varce formflation was not made in the additional construction funding urde: the last increase in the motor fuels tae. 5. Zight-of-way costs have ;one up significantly because --the Teeas Supreme Court nullified a statute allowing the Department to reduce amounts paid for land if the remaining property was enhanced by the roadway's construction, and --there has been a dramatic drop in land donations for highway projects.