Legislation to create an infrastructure bank in Nebraska and transfer money from state cash reserves for roads and bridges was heard in the appropriations committee this week. Nebraska Farm Bureau Senior Economist Jay Rempe says his group supports the measure which provides for an expressway system and repair of roads and bridges.
He says it makes sense to take some cash reserves and couple that with funding from the six cent increase in the gas tax to pay for infrastructure needs.
Rempe says the measure was introduced by Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Smith at the request of the Governor. He says there’s a growing need to improve farm to market roads and bridges and this bill will help accomplish that.
Rempe says the appropriations committee is expected to reconsider the bill sometime next week after the forecasting board gives its projections on state revenues. He’s hoping after that, the committee will pass the legislation.
