Illinois Voters to Decide on Transportation Trust Fund in November

Unable or unwilling to raise the 31 cent gas tax [per API], not raised since 1991, Illinois legislators passed "common sense" legislation, in the words of Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton, one of the many sponsors of HJRCA 36. While it does nothing to increase transportation revenues, it creates a virtual trust fund or budget "lock-box," like those found in many other states and the federal government, to ensure that transportation user fee and tax revenues are spent only on transportation-related purposes.

"The effort comes as Illinois' infrastructure wish list continues to grow, but money earmarked for transportation projects is routinely diverted to fill other budget holes," writes Monique Garcia, state government and political reporter for the Chicago Tribune. "While some advocacy groups have called for a gas tax increase, raising taxes is politically unpopular during an election year."

Chicago-based Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, called for a 30-cent gas tax and vehicle registration fee increases in a new report posted here last month. MPC Senior Fellow James R. Reilly urges a "yes" vote on the lockbox measure.

History suggests voters would be wise to approve this amendment. Time and again, particularly in years when state revenues have been tight, the General Assembly has dipped into what’s known as “the road fund.”

Unlike more road-oriented transportation constitutional amendments, such as California's Article XIX, far more transportation purposes are allowed under Constitutional Amendment 36 according to Garcia.