The Truth about our Oklahoma roads

Do not believe this hogwash about a gasoline tax increase, needed to fix our roads, bridges, and highways. The truth is we already have enough money. If it were not for government waste, mismanagement, and dare I say corruption we could have good roads in Oklahoma. The truth is that our governments here in Oklahoma do not see the roads as priority. They must not think that infrastructure is a primary role of government.

What about Tulsa, why are the roads so bad here?

• In the 70s, Tulsa stopped performing routine maintenance on the roads.
• In the 80s, Tulsa got rid of the road crews that laid down overlays to fix bumpy and abused roads.
• Tulsa now has two asphalt machines that sit around and do nothing while contract crews do all the work.
• The contract bidding process creates waste and delays. It takes, in some cases, over a year to get a job done. We could do the job with our own road crews at one-third the cost and much quicker.

The lack of infrastructure and timely completion of projects is preventing Tulsa from expanding its economic base. This problem is not a money problem it is a priority problem. Jim Mautino is trying to cut thought all this tape and correct this problem. It is a good thing we did not recall him.

On the State level, it is not any better.

• Oklahoma is second in the nation when it comes to miles of toll roads. These roads generated $185.9 million of revenue in 2004.
• Oklahoma receives $5 of fuel tax more, per person, than any other state.
• 7% of Oklahoma revenue comes from the motor fuels tax. How much do you think ODOT receives? Only 3.8% of the state budget goes to ODOT.
• Oklahoma receives 150% more revenue from motor tags and license fees, per capita, than any other state.
  

The money is there but it is not being prioritized. The solution is not to give our government more money. The solution is to demand that they spend our money wisely. Oklahoma must stop diverting fuel tax into the general fund. Our officials must recognize that infrastructure is a primary roll of government that must be prioritized. Vote no on 723; tell our officials that enough is enough. Tell them to be wise with what they have and prioritize roads and bridges.

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State Question 723
Oklahoma
Tulsa