Lucas pushes tax hike for roads

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - A day after her amendment to delay the tolling project passed a Va. Senate Finance Committee, Portsmouth State Senator Louise Lucas says she will propose new statewide taxes to pay for roads.

The budget amendment, which would delay tolls on the Midtown and Downtown Tunnels until January 2014, must still pass the Virginia House of Delegates.

Lucas told WAVY.com she will propose new statewide taxes to pay for roads in January.

Lucas, (D) Portsmouth, can easily win re-election as a result of the political leaning of her district. Because losing her seat is not a prominent concern, Lucas becomes the obvious choice to put a controversial tax hike on the table.

"I'm willing to do that and put my political career on the line," Lucas said. "If that's what it takes to fix this problem."

Lucas said she supports a one cent hike in the sales tax, which could raise $1 billion a year statewide. She also backs raising the gasoline tax by ten cents a gallon, which could bring in another $480 million.

Portsmouth resident Bill Watts is a member of the Portsmouth Taxpayer Alliance.

"I am opposed to anyone who is going to raise taxes on us absolutely....even if it pays for roads," Watts said.

Getting some type of a revenue stream to pay road projects, like a new Midtown Tunnel tube, seems inevitable.

Right now, the state doesn't have enough money to complete road projects. In five years, there will be no new money for road construction.

State Senator Tommy Norment, (R) James City County, has realized this fact for years.

"I have been vilified for years, and there is plenty of my blood on the floor of the Senate," Norment said.

VDOT told WAVY it plans to move forward with the project. If the budget amendment passes and tolls are delayed, the state will make up the lost revenue. Bonds will likely pay for 18 months worth of tolls or $125 million.