A six-member joint panel has reached a compromise that would partially address Idaho's roads funding shortfall.
The new plan was passed unanimously by the Legislature's special joint conference committee on Friday afternoon after two full days of negotiations. The proposal would raise $95 million — far short of the $262 million annual shortfall the state has faced for road maintenance since 2010.
The panel's bill would raise fuel taxes by 7 cents per gallon and increase registration fees by $21. It would also dedicate some excess general fund dollars to statewide roads projects for two years.
The plan still needs to pass both chambers.
Republican Sen. Dean Cameron, who co-chairs Idaho's powerful budget-writing committee, calls the compromise a significant stride, while saying it doesn't fully resolve the issue.
