Governor Hogan is expected to sign a bill increasing the amounts of Highway User Revenue (HUR) that is distributed to local jurisdictions — Baltimore City, counties, and municipalities — to repair and improve local roadways. The Transportation Trust Fund, which is funded by the Gasoline and Motor Vehicle Revenue Account, also known as the gas tax, will be the source of increased funding.
Prior to 2008, Maryland local jurisdictions, counties, and municipal governments received 30 percent of the HUR funds, which played a crucial role in sustaining roads and highways in Maryland’s counties, cities, and towns.
HUR funds supported vital local road improvement projects and maintenance work such as snow removal, filling potholes, drainage work, pavement, striping, and the like. Maryland counties and municipalities, except for Baltimore City, experienced significant reductions in shared revenues when the former administration took away funding through the Budget Reconciliation and Finance Act in 2008.
Over the next five years, HUR funding will be phased in to increase revenue for road expenses. This should ease the burden that has stressed local budgets and delayed road improvements.
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