Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-29

complete it's projected State High
way construction will be approx
mately $10,290,U00. But because of
overhead expenses and certain
necessarily expensive sections eX-
ceeding 100000 per mile, the State
in the last analysis bears nearly SIS
percent and the Federal Government
about AZ percent. If this holds true
the cost to the State to complete its
program would be about $12,000,000
But to reach a conclusion and de-
cision as to ways and means we have
to consider other sources of revenue
and their apportionment. These fig
ures of expenditures were recently
submitted by the State Highway
Commission to the State Budget
Committee, showing work done and
sources of income for the year end
ing June 80, 1926:
l. Expended from State Highway
Loan Fund; that is, bond money for
State highway construction, 81, 091,-
734.00; and for the same purpose for
the past four months beginning July
/, 1926, $1,576,S54.00.
2. Expended for bridge construc-
ton; bond money supplemented by
towns and counties, $714,777.0O; and
for four months beginning july 1,
1926, from same sources, S3S7,391. 90
8. Improvement, State Aid roads,
joint fund composed of appropria-
ton, mill tax, and la gas tax, ST.
345,359.00.
4. Third class Highway Fund, 1-6
gas tax and mill tax. less 500, 900,
for construction, $6S0,955.53.
5. Reconstruction fund, 1-3 gas
tax. $555,741.03, and for four months
beginning July l. 1926, s6O6.274.3O.
6. Maintenance State and State
aid highways, $1,8S3,223.45.
Auto fees:
Z. Administration S79.215.76.
s. Auto bureau, s113,72332.
9. Interest on bonds. $449,330.00.
10. Maturity on bonds. s122 200 90.
Total for year ending, June 80,
1925, $7,036, 059.09.
Total construction and RECONSTRUCT
ton expenditures for highways and
bridges for four months from July l,
1926, $2,570,519.00.
Total contracted expenditures for
past sixteen months (not including
some small appropriations $685.
$3.50.
But from these figures please no.
tice that 'about s2,5O0,O0O is bond
money now exhausted: also over
$1,000,000 is more bond money US
able for bridges only, less contri-
buttons from towns and counties.
These other items are for secondary
road work, aggregating about S2,125,-
600; and $764.269.00 is definitely set
aside for administration expenses,
bond interest and bond retirement;
and there is not included in this
Budget S125,000 appropriated from
motor vehicles fees, which do not
pass through the Highway Depart
ment, but which are used for the
support of the State Highway Pol
ice
So after analysis and deduction of
items, it is found that the only item
of income now available for carrying
on State highway construction. or
reconstruction without further .gis-
lative authority. is one third of the
gas. tax amounting to about 1855, 00o
per year This amount may be sup
plemented by Federal aid to an esti-
mated extent of not over AZ per cent:
but probably less than AZ per cent
because Of certain reconstruction
Jobs some Federal money has already
been expended in years past
II Sliculd al" eiN - nc DO- It III lHiH1i
hat there are many miles of early
light construction. now worn and
obsolete, which urgently need recon
struction.
But before searching for new funds
one more element must be consider
ed to wit. maintenance. which means
the upkeep, not only of State high
ways, but also OF State Aid High
ways. In 1926 motor vehicles dan
licenses contributed toward mainten-
ance. after deductions above cited,
S1,334.000 and one sixth of the gas
tax. s215,000: and cities and towns
contributed $4,000. But for 1927,
it is a different story In the year
1925 out of motor vehicle fees which
totalled about s2,12S.o00, it was nee
essary to set aside oniy $764. 900 for
overhead. police. and bond interest
and retirement. the two latter items
$6I, 100000: whereas for each of the
wears 1927. 1928 and 1880. outstand-
ing bond requirements alone will ex-
coed Sl,000,000i while the other de-
ductible items will naturally increase.
In fact, the Highway Commission in
their budget estimated that for 1928
the net amount derived firm regis
tration fees and applicable to main
tNhoHct Will SuIlIh 10 ABOUT $y0u,-
900.
Motor vehicle fees increase: The
rate has been about 100000 per year
for the past two years, but these are
absorbed largely by mounting MAIN
tenance costs. especially on the
weakening and inferior sections of
early highway construction. In 1924
maintenance cost was $9S1.00 per
mile; in 1925 it was $95000 per mile.
The new type of construction costs
to maintain about $4,000 per mile.
Assuming that the State of Maine
proposes to see the job through, and
have its extensive transportation
system permanently completed, how
may the funds be provided?
1. Can it be by direct taxation:
approximately IL mills to the dol
lar and covering a period of years?
Never, If we may judge the future
legislatures by the past. There will
be the inevitable biennial objective