The Republican Senate president is saying the competing transportation budget proposals are closer than they appear as lawmakers go into the final week of negotiations before the deadline to pass a new budget.
The Senate鈥檚 plan would raise the gas tax by 6 cents, generating about $400 million in extra revenue. The House鈥檚 10.7-cent increase and increases to the diesel tax would have created about $872 million in extra revenue.
Obhof says it鈥檚 less about the tax rate and more about determining the needs of Ohio鈥檚 infrastructure.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 the House, administration, or Senate, I think we鈥檙e all focused on the same thing which is making sure that we鈥檙e investing in what we can into infrastructure and what we need to in order to promote the best infrastructure possible,鈥� says Obhof.
Gov. Mike DeWine still insists that the state needs an 18-cent gas tax hike in order to fill a widening budget gap. The sides have to reach an agreement by March 31 when the budget must be signed.
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