Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
The Nome Nugget
Nome, Nome County, Alaska
What is this article about?
In Juneau, a Federal Bureau of Public Roads official opposed a bill to equally distribute Alaska's gasoline tax funds among four districts during a Senate hearing. The bill, supported by Northwestern senators for a Nome road link, was retained for amendment. Alaska receives about $13.5M in federal highway aid annually, totaling $15M with state matching.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
Tax Measure From
Fed. Roads Bureau
JUNEAU. (AP) — A Federal Bureau of Public Roads official Friday voiced strong opposition to a bill to change Alaska's present method of allocating gasoline tax funds and require equal distribution among the state's four major districts.
After the hearing before the Senate, in session as a committee of the whole, the bill was retained on the calendar but appeared in line for amendment before final action.
Strongest support for the measure has come from Northwestern Alaska senators who seek a road connecting Nome with other parts of the state. The measure, which had been saved from defeat several times, appeared headed for passage before Friday's hearing.
E. H. Swick of Juneau, regional engineer for the BPR, told senators he felt it would be impractical to split off available highway funds in the method proposed under the bill. And he added the federal agency would not be agreeable to administering federal matching funds on such a basis.
"It's my personal opinion that the Legislature would not be wise to program a highway fund. For the next few years at least, you should permit the state Highway Department to come up with a program and then you can see how it is doing," he said.
"I can't see how you can decide that any one area is going to have so much money and still come up with anything that makes sense."
Alaska now receives about 13½ million dollars a year in federal highway aid, he said. Along with state matching funds, the total amount available to Alaska for road programs amounts to about 15 million dollars a year.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Juneau, Alaska
Event Date
Friday
Key Persons
Outcome
bill retained on senate calendar and appeared in line for amendment before final action.
Event Details
A Federal Bureau of Public Roads official voiced strong opposition to a bill changing Alaska's gasoline tax fund allocation to require equal distribution among four major districts. The hearing was before the Senate as a committee of the whole. Strongest support came from Northwestern Alaska senators seeking a road connecting Nome with other parts. E. H. Swick, regional engineer for the BPR, argued it would be impractical and the federal agency would not administer matching funds on that basis. He advised against programming highway funds and allowing the state Highway Department flexibility. Alaska receives about 13½ million dollars yearly in federal highway aid, totaling about 15 million with state matching.