ST. PAUL - State Representative Greg Davids (R-Preston) joined a bipartisan majority in the Minnesota House recently in approving legislation that addresses our state's road and bridge construction needs.

"People do not need to pay higher fees or higher gasoline taxes in order to improve our highways," Davids said. "This is a critical bill that would positively impact roads and bridges in Fillmore in Houston counties in a variety of ways."

Overall, Davids said the transportation funding legislation will provide $6 billion to statewide road and bridge needs over the next ten years without raising taxes. The proposal creates a new fund of existing tax revenue streams called the Transportation Priorities Fund, which uses current, transportation-related state tax revenues to make the new road and bridge investment.

Additionally, the transportation proposal would permanently fund the popular Small Cities Road Assistance Program, which provides a state revenue stream to cities with fewer than 5,000 residents in order to make needed street repairs.

How would this proposal benefit local cities? Davids shared the highlights:

Fillmore County

Canton: $10,796

Fountain: $9,974

Harmony: $19,778

Lanesboro: $16,485

Mabel: $14,805

Ostrander: $9,135

Peterson: $8,834

Preston: $22,835

Rushford: $26,017

Rushford Village: $31,567

Spring Valley: $32,668

Whalan: $8,573

Wykoff: $12,033

Houston County

Brownsville: $12,332

Caledonia: $38,860

Eitzen: $9,536

Hokah: $13,304

Houston: $18,260

Spring Grove: $21,234

Davids also noted that in County State Aid Highway funding, by 2021 Fillmore County is estimated to receive nearly $2.7 million more than its 2017 allotment, while Houston County is expected to collect more than $1.95 million. A total of four area bridges on MnDOT's local bridge priority list would also be replaced if the House transportation finance proposal becomes law.