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Salisbury,
NC – At the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce-Federal & State Affairs
Committee on April 22, 2008, Dr. Ada M. Fisher, NC House District 77
Republican Candidate asked if the Transfer Tax is removed from the
Highway Trust Fund and put in the general fund permanently as is being
proposed, what guarantees are there that these monies will be restored
from other sources to help solve our problems with bridges, roads,
etc.? Representative Lorene Coates currently the representative for
this seat noted that 172 million has been borrowed annually from these
monies and placed in the General Budget since 1992. She supports making
this a permanent change.
Dr. Fisher has clearly stated
“it is foolish to take away any monies designated for the Highway Trust
Fund given our aging infrastructure. Infrastructure supports and
repairs are crucial to public safety as well as a potential source of
employment at the local levels.” The push to put a toll bridge on the
Yadkin River thereby increasing the alternative route traffic through
Spencer is another concern of Fisher’s. “I appreciate that the Yadkin
River Bridge needs immediate help, but if we follow current trends in
such public private partnerships, it is not unforeseeable that some
foreign entity could end up owning that bridge.” |
