By Sen. Jimmy Higdon
I appreciate the governor reducing the gas tax by 10 cents for one month and delaying the scheduled July 1 increase in the gas tax formula. Those are understandable short-term measures during uncertain economic times. Kentuckians understandably welcome relief at the pump. Every dollar matters.
However, if the order is extended beyond 30 days, we also need to consider the impact on Kentucky’s roads, bridges and highways—especially those maintained by local governments.
I urge the governor not to seek an extension of the executive order through local governments.
Under KRS 39A.090, local officials may request extensions beyond the initial 30 days, meaning judges/executives and mayors will influence whether the 10-cent reduction continues. Before doing so, county and city leaders should carefully consider the impact of losing millions in monthly transportation funding on their communities.
In practical terms, most drivers may save about $1.50 to $2 per fill-up, or just over $5 per month for someone driving 15,000 miles annually.
Those modest savings come at the expense of long-term transportation funding—roughly $27 million every month this order remains in place.
According to the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties, local governments stand to lose millions in funding for paving, bridge repair, maintenance, drainage and other infrastructure needs. If extended through the end of the year, the order could remove nearly $250 million from Kentucky’s already strained transportation fund.
The current gas formula generates revenue comparable to 2011 levels, while project costs reflect inflation in 2026. Local officials across the commonwealth already struggle to keep up with resurfacing projects, pothole repairs, aging bridges and routine maintenance. We are decades behind on these basic maintenance needs.
When maintenance is delayed, costs rise. Roads that could be resurfaced today may require full reconstruction in a few years. Potholes deepen, bridges age, rural routes crumble and safety concerns grow as state and local governments are forced to do more with less.
Drivers feel the consequences of poor highway conditions every day. The savings at the pump disappear quickly after a blown tire, damaged suspension or vehicle realignment.
Kentuckians for Better Transportation summed it up well recently: we are saving pennies while losing pavement.
Kentucky’s gas formula is a dedicated funding source for transportation infrastructure. Those dollars support the roads Kentuckians use every day to get to work, school, church, farms and businesses.
Kentucky sits at the crossroads of America with roughly 800 miles of interstate and more than 80,000 miles of public routes. The commonwealth maintains the seventh-largest bridge network and eighth-largest pavement network in the country. Millions of out-of-state travelers and commercial trucks buy fuel in Kentucky each year, helping to support the infrastructure they use as they travel through the state.
At the same time, oil markets and international conflicts drive gas prices far more than a temporary executive order. Prices can rise or fall dramatically within days based on world events. Oil was above $100 per barrel when the governor signed the order, but has recently hovered around $90 per barrel. Global markets, not state policy, primarily determine prices at the pump.
Helping families is important, but Kentucky cannot continue to fall further behind in infrastructure investment while pretending there is no cost. Residents ultimately pay the price through deteriorating highways, vehicle damage and delayed repairs.
If you share these concerns and support well-maintained local infrastructure, I encourage you to reach out to your county and city elected officials.
In the end, saving a few dollars at the pump today could mean a much bumpier road ahead for all of us.
