OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A state senator who wants to ensure the
long-term excellence of Nebraska’s highway system says raising fuel
taxes is not the way she wants to go.
Sen. Deb Fischer, of Valentine, opposes suggestions by a
contractors group and others to hike the fuel tax a dime a gallon.
The current variable state rate is 27.1 cents a gallon.
Fischer says the fuel tax isn’t a sustainable revenue source to
build Nebraska’s roads, citing drops in miles driven and increases
in vehicle fuel efficiency.
She says the state needs a large source of revenue if its
leaders are going to address the state’s highway needs.
The senator isn’t saying publicly what revenue sources she’ll
propose in the coming legislative session, other than they won’t
include a fuel tax increase.
