Booneville, Miss. (WTVA) -- Mayor Joe Eaton wishes there was more money to improve roads in Booneville.
"People want good roads to drive on. They don't like their cars getting dirty and it tears them up. It wears them out," Mayor Eaton said.
He says numerous roads need repair.
Others needs overlay which is expensive.
Some neighborhoods need road repairs but the last thing the city can afford to do is take on more road work.
"Ad valorem costs are not able to keep up with the rising costs of overlaying streets and repairing streets and developing new streets," Mayor Eaton added.
He proposes the state of Mississippi give cities and counties a small portion of the fuel tax applied to every gallon of gas sold in the state.
"This might be the mechanism to help pay for municipalities and counties to improve roads and streets and just a small portion back to the cities would go a long way in helping solve the problem," Mayor Eaton said.
Mississippi drivers currently pay just over .37 in state and federal taxes per gallon.
Mississippi's portion is 18.8 cents per gallon.
That money goes to support the state's highway system as a whole.
Representative Steve Holland says the mayor's request could face an uphill battle when there could be considerable reluctance to use that money for any other purpose.
There is also little chance for the fuel tax to be increased.
"Noble ideas. The fact of the matter is we need another statewide building program for our own highways and furthermore, the 1987 Highway Program which is probably the best economic development thing we've done in this state in 30 years is gravely in need of maintenance. We don't even have the money for that so, I think the mayor is right on target with his request. I think it's wishful thinking," Representative Holland said.
Representative Tracy Arnold who lives in Booneville says his proposal would be for Booneville to recruit more industry and bring revenue in through those sources.
