State committee delaying final report on highways

— A committee studying ways to increase funds for Arkansas’ highways is delaying its final recommendations until the month before lawmakers return to the Capitol for the legislative session.

Chairmen of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Highway Finance said Wednesday that the panel will issue an interim report by the July 1 deadline, but its final recommendations won’t come until December. The 2011 legislative session begins in January.

The committee has been meeting for a year to make recommendations on ways to increase highway funding.

Two options include a half-cent sales tax to support a bond program that would end in 10 years and transferring sales tax revenues from items such as new and used vehicles, tires and auto service to the highway fund.

Gov. Mike Beebe has said he is opposed to both ideas.

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