Budget plans from the House and Senate include provisions to raise fee
on virtually every DMV service you can think of. Proponents say the hikes are needed to build and
repair roads and bridges. In a discussion with a Wilmington Star-News
reporter for a story published Wednesday, Joe Coletti pointed out that
the backlog of road needs should have been paid for previously
with funds designated for that purpose. However, for the past several
years, legislators have diverted money from the Highway Trust Fund to
the general fund, to pay for – you guessed it – expanded and new
programs and services. “When they say they need to raise fees to build
roads, it begs the question: What did you do with the money that was in
the fund in the first place?” JLF policy reports released last year
demonstrate the problems with our county roads and major road projects.