 Underfunding Hits Highway, Airport Maintenance Hardest June 01, 2002
The positions include one Deputy Commissioner, administrative clerks, managers, and equipment operators. Since highway and aviation maintenance accounts for nearly 90 percent of the department's general fund budget, most of the positions will be maintenance employees. The legislature made the cuts despite written information throughout the session outlining the consequences of their proposed budget. "This is an action we hate to take," Perkins said. "The success of this department is dependent on the people who work for it. We're losing some good people because of these cuts and that's going to make it harder on those that are left to do their jobs. "You never hear the public complaining about too much transportation maintenance," Perkins added. "If anything, people know the state should be increasing maintenance to preserve our investments in roads and airports." In addition to eliminating 70 positions, the department will have to close 3 maintenance stations, reduce snow hauling done by private sector contractors, and discontinue maintenance on more than 70 rural roads and 18 small airports. Gov. Knowles' proposed budget included the cost increases necessary to hold the line on services. Some employees will remain employed through the summer working on federally funded projects. Federal funds are not available for maintenance of state roads.
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