On Nov. 3, 2015, 83 percent of Texas voters approved the ballot measure known as Proposition 7, which authorized a constitutional amendment for transportation funding. Under the amendment, a portion of sales and use taxes as well as a smaller portion of motor vehicle sales and rental taxes may only be used pursuant to Section 7-c, Article VIII of the Texas Constitution, to:
(1) construct, maintain, or acquire rights-of-way for public roadways other than toll roads; or (2) repay the principal of and interest on general obligation bonds issued as authorized by Section 49-p, Article III, of this constitution.
This means Proposition 7 funds may also pay the debt service on Proposition 12 bonds, which are guaranteed by state general revenue.
Background
Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 5 of the 84th Legislature (Regular Session) amended the constitution to include Proposition 7 funding to TxDOT.
Ballot proposition language:
The constitutional amendment dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue to the state highway fund to provide funding for nontolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt.
Methodology
Proposition 7 requires the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (comptroller) to deposit in the State Highway Fund (SHF) in each state fiscal year (FY) $2.5 billion of the net revenue from the state sales and use tax that exceeds the first $28 billion of that revenue coming into the state treasury in that fiscal year, beginning in FY 2018. This provision is set to expire Aug. 31, 2032 unless a future legislature votes to extend it.
Additionally, beginning in September 2019 (FY 2020), if state motor vehicle sales and rental tax revenue exceeds $5 billion in a fiscal year, 35 percent of the amount above $5 billion will be directed to the SHF. This provision takes effect on Sept. 1, 2019 (FY 2020) and is set to expire Aug. 31, 2029, unless a future legislature votes to extend it.
Figure 1
Proposition 7 Deposits to the SHF
Fiscal Year | Deposits to SHF | Total Deposits to Date |
---|---|---|
2018 | $939 million | |
2019 | $4.061 billion | |
2020 | $2.5 billion | $7.5 billion |
Factors Affecting Proposition 7 Deposits to the SHF
Some of the factors affecting Proposition 7 deposits are as follows:
More Information
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