House Bill 807 distributes additional highway user revenues funds to all 23 counties, Baltimore City, and municipalities. MACo estimates that this will result in $60 million in highway user revenues beginning in fiscal year 2020, and begins to address a long-standing priority of county governments.

This first step towards full restoration aids locals in repairing, replacing, and maintaining county roads and bridges that have suffered or deteriorated in the last several years.

MACo submitted written testimony in support of HB 807 to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on March 28, 2018.

From MACo Testimony:

It is unquestionable that local governments – and, specifically, counties – maintain the lion’s share of the state’s roads and bridges. Unlike most other states, in Maryland, local governments own and maintain 83% of the roads. Every resident depends on local roadways.

Highway user revenues fund roads and bridges throughout our entire state, through an equitable, time-tested formula based on road mileage and vehicle registrations. This touches the roads our kids ride to school, the roads our first responders travel to keep us safe, and the roads where we all live.

HB 807 takes a step in the right direction toward bringing back transportation dollars to the 83% of roads and bridges maintained by local governments in Maryland. It brings back transportation dollars to everyone’s home. This bill offers a path to restore these desperately needed funds.”

For more on this and other legislation, follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative session here.