Chronicle Editorial

By: 
Chronicle Staff

DOT budget backtracks on past promises
 
     A plan that would cut nearly $10 million from the Iowa Department of Transportation’s budget is a slap in the face to previous work targeting our state’s lagging infrastructure system.
     House Republicans last week proposed a budget that does not include proper funding to maintain current staffing needs at the DOT. According to the Des Moines Register, the proposal would cut more than 400 DOT jobs over the next four years, potentially delay construction projects and affect vital services like snow removal. This jeopardizes public safety, critics say, which should never have a price tag.
     On the surface, the House’s plan seems like a partisan issue. However, it has received a fair share of backlash from both sides of the aisle. Josh Byrnes, a Republican from Osage, won the award for best quote of the week when he called the plan “crap.” While Byrnes’ statement probably irritated his fellow GOP colleagues in Des Moines, it certainly holds water.
     Iowans might remember a certain bill last year that targeted the state’s lagging DOT budget. It increased Iowa’s gas tax by 10 cents per gallon to generate much-needed revenue for counties’ and cities’ road budgets. Lawmakers debated the plan for more than five years before the House and Senate quickly came to an agreement in 2015, which made many Iowans wonder what took them so long in the first place.
     To put it lightly, slashing the DOT’s budget immediately after raising the gas tax due to lackluster funding is questionable. Iowa’s extensive infrastructure system is already running on fumes, and reducing workers and services is no way to improve it. $10 million isn’t a huge sum compared to the astronomical cost of roads, bridges and culverts, but it represents a significant number of workers who help keep our infrastructure operational. Slicing funding is no way to uphold past commitments that promised improvements to Iowa’s roads.
     The DOT budget is only one issue on a list of others that could delay adjournment this year. Though lawmakers were hoping to wrap up the 2016 session this week, it’s anyone’s guess whether that will actually happen. Disagreement has been the standard over the last four months and it very well could continue as the Legislature limps towards the finish line.
 
Springtime farm safety reminder
 
     Farmers across the state have taken advantage of great weather recently in preparation of this year’s planting season. Field activity spiked over the past two weeks and the smell of freshly tilled dirt has filled the air from border to border. Soon, Iowa’s blackened landscape will return to a lush green as crops begin to sprout.
     Spring is a busy time of the year for nearly every Iowan, which can create hazards as farmers hit the roads in tractors and other equipment. It’s important for travelers to stay alert and safe during planting season to avoid tragedy. Collisions between farm equipment and regular vehicles aren’t rare in Iowa, and it’s important to give these machines plenty of room when they’re heading down the highway.
     Roadway safety is a mutual commitment. Farmers must remain visible to their fellow travelers by using flashing signals and slow-moving vehicle emblems, which is a simple step towards avoiding problems. It might seem like a no-brainer, but remembering these tips could go a long way during the 2016 planting season.
     Simple roadway safety practices are second nature to many folks here in Iowa. We’re used to sharing the road with our farmer friends, but it’s important for all of us to remain on our toes. Doing so will help ensure a safe planting season free of accidents and potential tragedy.

Hampton Chronicle

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