Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fate of Highways In Voters' Hands (cont)

16th largest in the nation. In fact, he said Arkansas compares to California in state roads it must maintain.

However, Arkansas ranks 37th or 38th in revenue to keep the highways maintained. "We're gradually falling behind," he said.

"I believe in maintaining what we've got. We have $20 million a year for an overlay program in the state (to cover and repair existing roads). If we have money to build new roads," he continued, "why not be better stewards of what we have."

Another problem the state faces is semi traffic. Arkansas' highways were originally designed for 60,000 pound trucks. However, with recent changes in the laws, trucks can now run carrying up to 85,000 pounds. "Our roads weren't built for it," he said.

Should the issue fail on Jan. 9, Lipton said two things will occur. First, cities and counties will not be getting their 15 percent each from the measure. Then the 1991 road program will not be done within the time frame originally established for it.

He said it will take 20 to 25 years to complete those goals established in the '91 plan, instead of 10 to 15.

In addition, there will be no new jobs generated and the people of the state will have to live with what they have.

"It's a hard sell and an uphill fight," Lipton said of the measure. "But we must live with what the people say.

"If we fail, we go back to square one. There is no plan `B'. I don't think the General Assembly will let us (the highway commission) get into sales taxes through legislation.

"Our fixed cents per gallon rate is archaic. Inflation is eating away at it."

In fact, he said inflation costs the state 3/4 of a cent per year on the nickel per gallon tax in existence. In seven years, the tax will be wiped out because of rising costs.

"There's no way to adequately finance roads in Arkansas. If this fails, the legislature won't touch it again. They'll say, `The people have spoken.'"