The chairman of a House transportation committee is eyeing legislation this year to ensure county road commissions don’t misuse money they’ll get from a $1.2 billion road funding plan the legislature approved last year.
State Representative Peter Pettalia, R-Presque Isle, is worried some road commissions will use the money to pay down their pension debt.
He says some county road commissions’ pension liabilities are only half funded.
Late last year lawmakers approved a road funding plan that includes a gas tax increase and a registration fee increase.
Pettalia says if the state is asking people to pay more at the pump then it should guarantee the money generated from that tax increase goes to fix the roads.