Inside Gov. Doug Ducey's $10.1 billion spending plan for next year's budget is a proposal to double investments on "preventative road surface maintenance."
The two operative words being "preventative" and "maintenance." The governor hopes to avoid future repairs by tending to cracks and laying more liquid asphalt now.
The hope is to delay major construction on roads long ignored as revenues from the state's 18 cent gas tax shrinks.
That tax has remained unchanged since 1990 while far more cars can avoid visiting the pump and travel further distances in hybrid and electric cars.
Ducey has admitted the need for a stable revenue source to fund our roads and bridges, but his spokesman said the governor remains opposed to increasing the state gas tax.
