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Indiana General Assembly passes historic road funding legislation

The Indiana state legislature has passed historic road funding legislation and the state’s largest farm organization is pleased with the results.

Justin Schneider, director of state government relations for the Indiana Farm Bureau says the goal for this legislative session was long-term sustainable road funding.  “There’s definitely a lot fo new money – more than $300 million over the next 7 years going to local government for local roads and bridges,” he says.  “Over $6 billion over the next 7 years in state and local road funding.  That’s an influx of cash that was really needed.

He tells Brownfield it is the biggest investment in infrastructure in state history.

Schneider says the funding is user fee based and will include increased fuel taxes, registration fee increases, and a shift of the sales tax on gasoline to road funding.  “While individuals generally don’t want to pay more taxes – I think people understand here,” he says.  “The General Assembly did a really good job of trying to find balance and compromise and making things proportional as they move forward on these user fee increases.”

In addition to funding for rural roads and bridges, the General Assembly also passed its two-year budget – which includes funding for equitable K-12 education, state fair infrastructure, the Purdue Agricultural and Biological Engineering building, and the Indiana Grown program.

AUDIO: Justin Schneider, Indiana Farm Bureau