Transportation Cash Locked In Box

Would Ensure Funds Go To Roads, Bridges

One of the statewide questions awaiting Connecticut voters on the Nov. 6 ballot is whether to change the state constitution in an effort to protect state transportation funding.

The so-called transportation lockbox constitutional amendment is intended to prevent the General Assembly from using money in the state’s Special Transportation Fund for anything other than transportation-related purposes.

Here’s a look at some questions voters may have about this proposed constitutional amendment, and some answers:

What does the amendment question actually say?

Here is the wording: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to ensure (1) that all moneys contained in the Special Transportation Fund be used solely for transportation purposes, including the payment of debts of the state incurred for transportation purposes, and (2) that sources of funds deposited in the Special Transportation Fund be deposited in said fund so long as such sources are authorized by statute to be collected or received by the state?”

A “yes” vote supports passage of the amendment; a “no” vote would reject it.

Where does the transportation fund money come from?

The revenue comes from Connecticut’s motor fuels tax, motor carrier road tax, the gross earnings tax on petroleum products, certain motor vehicle fees and revenues, motor vehicle-related fines, and a portion of the state sales tax.

What is the transportation fund money used for?

The money in the fund is intended to pay for highway, road and bridge construction and repair, as well as for mass transit programs like buses and rail lines. The fund also can be used to pay back state bonding, which is the way the state borrows money to finance many transportation projects.

Why is a constitutional amendment needed?

Supporters of the proposal argue that putting this “lockbox” in the constitution will help keep state lawmakers from dipping into transportation fund to pay for other things, particularly when the state is facing major deficits. The transportation fund almost became insolvent this year and the General Assembly had to add money from a new state car tax and a portion of the state sales tax to bail it out. Will this “lockbox” actually work? The proposed amendment has support from both Democrats and Republicans, but some GOP lawmakers worry that the proposed protections for transportation funding aren’t strong enough. Critics say future legislatures could find ways to circumvent this amendment and divert money from the transportation fund. Republican and Democratic supporters of the amendment argue that the amendment will at least make it more difficult for future lawmakers to raid the fund.

he wouldn’t do that without a constitutional amendment to prevent the new money from being diverted to other purposes.

The proposed amendment passed the Senate that year by more than a 75 percent vote, but was only approved by the House with a simple majority. In the next two-year General Assembly session, in 2017, both chambers approved the proposal and the measure qualified to be on the 2018 ballot.

A bipartisan coalition that includes labor, business and environmental leaders is now pushing for approval of the amendment. The group has raised about $50,000 to promote passage of the lockbox proposal.

Some Republican critics of the amendment, including state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, doubt that it is strong enough to actually prevent future legislators from diverting dedicated tax revenues to other purposes.

Others lawmakers, such as Democrat Bob Godfrey of Danbury, a deputy House speaker, warned the so-called lockbox amendment is only a prelude to approval of tolls