AASHTO Journal, 8 May 2015
Nebraska’s Legislature sent Gov. Pete Ricketts a measure to raise an extra $75 million a year by hiking the motor fuel user charge by 6 cents a gallon, but Ricketts promptly vetoed the measure that same day.
His rejection came as no surprise, since he had publicly vowed such action. Ricketts had also said he wants his next director of the Department of Roads to review operations before lawmakers decide how best to fund transportation needs.
“I remain committed to addressing our state and local infrastructure needs. This is an area that is vital to our continued economic growth,” Ricketts said. “I cannot, however, support raising taxes as the first solution to this issue.”
Lawmakers passed the measure April 7 by a 26-15 vote that was short of the 30 needed to override a veto. However, the bill’s sponsor told reporters he expects to get enough votes to override and let the bill become law.
Under that measure, the new revenue would be split evenly among the NDOR, counties and cities.
The action came just days after Ricketts named Kyle Schneweis, a consultant and former official at the Kansas Department of Transportation, to become NDOR director starting June 8.
In his veto message, Ricketts criticized a fuel fee increase as a regressive tax that falls hardest on low-income drivers. Rickets said he thinks NDOR operations can be improved and that Schneweis would bring “a fresh approach to our state’s road construction needs.”
The governor also said other states have gotten more out of their construction programs by introducing efficiencies in operations and regulatory flexibility, plus by using public-private partnerships.