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whether to make the half-cent sales tax dollars will only be used to make up the favor the plan, but the most affirming
permanent and dedicate that money to difference in the meantime. support came from the most important
their roads. If they vote yes, that tax is Shepherd and Hendren spoke in place — the people of Arkansas.
estimated to raise $205 million annu- support of the bill, along with industry “Once we started moving it
ally for ARDOT. leaders and Scott Bennett, Arkansas through the legislative process, there
The second easel holds a pie chart Department of Transportation director. was strong support for it. And whenever
with three slices, showing where the “I want to compliment both the a legislator might waver and say, ‘Do we
other $95 million will be raised — $58 Speaker and the Senate Pro Tem. Once really want to do this?’ usually they’d
million from the new index on fuel we reached an agreement as to what hear from their constituents back home
taxes, almost $2 million from a new this highway plan would look like, they saying, ‘We’ve got to have a highway
registration fee on electric and hybrid both became advocates and worked hard plan.’ And the legislators went home
vehicles, and at least, $35 million from to make sure it got passed through both on the weekend, and they’d be talking
general revenue and/or casino tax rev- chambers. So it was truly a team effort to constituents and meeting with their
enues. both in terms of legislative and execu- leaders where that got reinforced.”
Flanked by the House Speaker tive branch of government, but also the The plan wasn’t without sticking
Shepherd and Senate Pro Tem Jim industry that made all the difference in points. He explains that some legislators
Hendren, Gov. Hutchinson explained garnering the support for it.” were concerned about the $50 million
that as a new industry, casinos aren’t that came from the short term highway
expected to generate enough taxes for GETTING THE VOTE plan he passed in 2015 to ensure the
the state until 2024. To make sure that The governor felt confident that state was eligible for federal matching
highways don’t continue to suffer until they had put together a good plan that funds. Would that money go away with
then, general revenue or other restricted a majority could unify behind, but he the $35 million commitment from gen-
reserve funding will be used. Eventually, admits that it took a while after the news eral revenue?
the casinos are expected to provide $35 conference to get everyone on board. “And so I wrote a letter to both the
million and more that will be dedicated Industry, ARDOT and both Speaker and the Senate Pro Tem assur-
to infrastructure, so the general revenue Democrats and Republicans seemed to 

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ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 2 2019 9/12/18 4:49 PM