Local State Representative John Cavaletto, who serves on the Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges Committees, voted Friday to support a proposed Constitutional Amendment that seeks to protect a funding mechanism for Illinois’ roads, highways, and transportation systems. The amendment passed the House overwhelmingly and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
“I was happy to co-sponsor this important Constitutional Amendment that is meant to stop the misuse of taxpayer dollars intended for road repair and other transportation infrastructure projects,” Representative Cavaletto commented. “I am proud to join the bipartisan effort to require those funds only be used for transportation-related purposes.”
House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 36 seeks to amend the Illinois Constitution to say that tax dollars collected via the motor fuel tax, vehicle registration fees, and license taxes will be used exclusively for transportation-related purposes.
“When people pay taxes on fuel and vehicle registrations, and when businesses pay taxes and fees to obtain special licenses and license plates, we expect that those dollars will be returned to our communities to help maintain and repair our roads and highways,” Cavaletto added. “Unfortunately, in the past, these road funds have been swept and the money was used to fund other non-related projects.”
“I have spoken to county and township highway commissioners who are having a hard time maintaining roads to keep them safe for residents, school buses, and farmers to travel in many areas and they need to be assured of a reliable funding source,” concluded Cavaletto.