VIDEO: Special Session Needed To Create Budget For Infrastructure Funding

MONROE COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)-State lawmakers failed to pass a budget for the Department of Transportation this session.

Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert tells WCBI, state roads and bridges are in critical need of repairs.

“I think our leadership on the house and the senate’s side both recognize the need,” said Tagert. “Unfortunately, they just disagree on the approach and how to solve that issue.”

Tagert said the state department of transportation is at a standstill.

Law makers said the state’s budget is tight, and as a result, the agency is waiting on lawmakers to create a budget.

“Basic, safe, and a comprehensive road and bridge system is a part of the function of government,” Tagert expressed. “So with that, we need to prioritize within our existing budget, or with new revenue, whichever one legislature chooses to do.”

“I think the first thing we need to do is stop having tax breaks for cronies,” said District 7 Senator Hob Bryan. “Stop having tax breaks for shopping center developers, and take the existing tax money that we have and use it for basic infrastructure.”

Governor Phil Bryant hears the concerns and said lawmakers must address the issue.

“One of the things I think we need to do is address our transportation system,” said Governor Bryant. “If we go through the special session without addressing that. We have not done our jobs, so we’re going to work hard on that.”

A special session will be needed to create the budget.

Tagert understands the state’s budget needs more revenue.

However, he said there are other ways to bring more money into the state.

“There’s the user fee, which is basically the fuel tax,” Tagert explained.  “There’s Internet sales tax, which has been a recent issue to include lotteries , which has been a recent issue and a recent proposal, so all of those are fair game.”

Here’s what Bryant has to say about an Internet sales tax.

“There is certainly a discussion,” the governor said. “There’s hurdles that needs to be cleared not only from congress, but court wise, but certainly they’ll be some discussion about that, but we have to do it within the constitutional framework of what the law allows.”