(Photo: WBOC)02/20/2007 10:43 PM ET
DOVER- It is going to be a long road ahead for the Delaware Department of Transportation and its more than $1 billion shortfall.
DelDOT's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year relies heavily on tax money. The department now faces a $1.5 billion shortfall over the next six years, down from an initial shortfall of $2.7 billion. DelDOT cut back on road projects to bring that number down.
DelDOT and Gov. Ruth Ann Minner want to raise nearly a $1 billion to make up for that shortage. The plan calls for raising the gas tax by 5 cents and increasing the tolls on Route 1 by as much as $1.
DelDOT also wants to eliminate EZ-Pass discounts and increase the registration and vehicle fees at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Since there would still be a shortfall, DelDOT would have to borrow the other $500 million.
Without that money, Minner warns that it would be difficult to maintain roads, bridges and railroad crossings. And the governor says DelDOT could lose out on $220 million in federal dollars for local projects.
