Cole County commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution supporting the passage of Proposition D in the Nov. 6 general election.
State lawmakers in May approved the proposed fuels tax increase, sending it to voters for final approval.
If a majority of Missourians agree, the state would increase its tax - currently 17 cents on the sale of each gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel - by 2.5 cents each year for a four-year period.
Commissioners noted Proposition D would provide $288 million in new, constitutionally protected funding for statewide road and bridge projects and state law enforcement after it is phased in over four years. They said it also would provide $124 million in new, annual state funding for local governments to fix roads and bridges - a 66 percent increase over the current state funding for cities and counties.
Cole County would get $1,381,419 in new revenue if the proposition passes, according to information on pro-Proposition D campaign group SaferMO.com's website. The county would get $624,629 of that amount, Jefferson City would get $677,594, and the seven smaller communities in the county would divide $79,196.
In other action Tuesday, the commission:
- Approved adding six disc golf baskets at County Park. In March, commissioners gave the OK to install three baskets. The Jefferson City Disc Golf Club is funding the construction, which will bring the total number of baskets to nine. There is room for potential future expansion. The course at County Park will be similar to the course in place at Binder Park.
- Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Jefferson City Host Lions Club, who will do vision and hearing screenings at the new Cole County Health Department on West Truman Boulevard.
Health Department Director Kristi Campbell said they still plan to shut down the old health department on Industrial Drive on Thursday and Friday of next week to facilitate the final move into the new facility. The Health Department plans to be open for business Oct. 1 at the West Truman Boulevard facility.