North Carolina needs to dramatically change how it pays for new and improved roads and other transportation needs and expand funding by at least $1.5 billion a year, nonpartisan research organization NC Chamber Foundation says in a new report.
That’s a big jump from the $5 billion now invested annually on the state’s transportation infrastructure, reflecting unmet needs and the state’s rapid population growth, says Ward Nye, the CEO of Raleigh-based aggregates and concrete supplier Martin Marietta and the chamber’s chairman.
“We need $1.5 billion to $3 billion a year to get us out of the range that is mediocre,” he says. “People will say that this looks like more government spending, but this is truly investment. We’ve seen that a $1 billion investment can generate 14,000 jobs.”
North Carolina’s dilemma is that about $3.2 billion of the annual $5 billion transportation budget comes from federal and state fuel taxes, which are fading as more consumers opt for cars with more efficient hybrid engines or electric vehicles. “Those sources are going to be more challenging, so we’ve got to look at different ways,” Nye says.
The chamber report issued today makes four recommendations:
- Start a pilot program to study charging a road-use tax of 2 to 4 cents per mile. Similar tests are underway in seven states, but they face questions about equity, privacy and how to administer the charges. One idea is reporting odometer readings during the annual inspections required in North Carolina.
- If and when a permanent road-user tax is implemented, phase out the current gas tax of 36.2 cents per gallon, the eighth-highest rate in the nation.
- Increase the state sales tax by as much of 1% with the additional funds going for transportation. A 1% levy would produce $1.5 billion. The state sales tax is now 4.75%, with local supplements pushing the overall rate as high as 7.5%.
- Boost the tax on vehicle sales to 4% from the current 3%, which is among the lowest rates in the country.
Phasing out the gas tax is the most startling proposal in the chamber report, and Nye says no one expects that to happen anytime soon. But it reflects a goal of shifting away from relying on taxing gasoline amid what seems like an inevitable shift to electric vehicles. The reduced driving stemmed from the current COVID-19 pandemic is also depressing transporation revenues.
The N.C. Chamber is pushing for action on the issue. “With project delays and the absence of sustained funding, North Carolina’s infrastructure and mobility conditions are likely to worsen,” according to the report.
The chamber report comes amid controversy over the N.C. Department of Transportation’s management under Gov. Roy Cooper. State Auditor Beth Wood, State Treasurer Dale Folwell and others have criticized the department for overspending as much as $2 billion over the last two years, requiring additional state funding. The agency’s CEO, chief financial officer and chief operating officer have been replaced over the last few months. Wood is a Democrat, while Folwell is a Republican. Both are seeking re-election in November.
Echoing the NCDOT’s response to Wood and Folwell, Nye says the financial issues largely stemmed from unexpected costs of repairing roads and bridges damaged in recent hurricanes and expensive legal judgments related to land acquisition disputes. Storm-related costs reached $400 million over 16 months, compared with the $66 million historically spent to repair and replace such damage.
“No one has said the money wasn’t spent on needed issues,” Nye says.
Folwell says he staunchly opposes mileage taxes because they would punish lower-income workers who often drive between two and three part-time jobs or schools every day. “The NCDOT’s billions of overspending are acts of mismanagement; not acts of God. Despite continued requests, they continue to fail at instituting cost control measures. Road users, taxpayers and road construction firms deserve better,” says Folwell.
Nye is also co-chairing a state task commission appointed by Cooper that is looking at new funding models for NCDOT. The NC FIRST Commission will release a report later this year. It has already discussed many new funding options, including those mentioned in the NC Chamber Foundation report.
The report includes examples of how investment in roads around Durham, Raleigh, Kinston, Goldsboro and Lincoln County have created extensive economic development gains. Officials at the Raleigh-based Institute for Transportation Research and Education at N.C. State University produced the report.
Ultimately, the N.C. General Assembly will make the key decisions regarding state transportation funding.
