LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) _ Arkansas highway officials have moved to prop up what is now a nearly $2.4 billion road construction program.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the Arkansas Highway Commission accepted a recommendation Wednesday to shift $114 million to the Connecting Arkansas Program focusing on regionally significant projects across the state.
Highway officials say the money shift is a small-scale look at the financial problems facing the Arkansas road construction program.
The voter-approved program was supposed to be financed largely using proceeds from a statewide half-cent sales tax. But officials say those collections have consistently fallen below predictions, leading to a shortfall in the program halfway through its 10-year life.
The program also faces increased costs of many projects. Nine projects worth an estimated nearly $1 billion are scheduled for this year.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI