Eltife: Use Cash to Pay for Highways

AUSTIN — Tyler’s state senator addresses the need to find more money for highway funding. Traditionally, according to KETK, the gas tax has been used. Acknowledging that the money has to come from somewhere, Kevin Eltife says, “Choose your poison. None of us like taxes.” But according to Eltife, the state could raise the gas tax a dime, possibly expand the sales tax base, or raise the sales tax rate.

Since the gas tax hasn’t been touched in over 20 years, Eltife says we’ve been financing our roads simply with debt, and as far as he’s concerned, that’s not very conservative. “The answer,” says Eltife, “is to find a dedicated revenue stream and pay cash.” According to Eltife, that’s not a new idea from him; he says he’s been putting it out there since he first joined the Senate and compares it to the city of Tyler’s half-cent sales tax. As to possible political repercussions, he says, “All I know to do is name the problems, tell people how I would solve them, tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they may.”