Auto Crisis Impacting MoDOT

(Jefferson City, MO) -- Weak auto sales are having an impact on the Missouri Department of Transportation.

On Wednesday, MoDOT director Pete Rahn presented the agency's annual accountability report at the state capitol, saying there's a tremendous lack of funding for the state's transportation needs.
    
Rahn says revenues are down almost five percent through the first four months of the fiscal year.  That's a more than $18 million decline.  He says if that continues, there could be a $73 million shortfall this fiscal year in revenues from fuel taxes, motor vehicles sales taxes and license fees.
    
He says auto sales are responsible for the biggest decline, which were at eleven percent.

"If that trend continues, you could see as large as a $360 million hole within our five-year construction program." says Rahn.

Rahn says MoDOT depends on motor vehicle sales tax revenues to repay bonds that refinance road improvements