An amendment by Sen. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, to a transportation bill at the current legislative session is aimed at raising more funds for major state projects and reducing the prospect of having to charge tolls for new roads and bridges.

The amendment is to Senate Bill 277 by Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, that funds four major projects, including a new Interstate 10 bridge at Lake Charles over the Calcasieu River.

Abraham said there is already $400 million in the local bridge fund. Early commitments put $200 million in the fund and the state budget that was just approved added another $200 million.

The other projects are a new I-10 bridge over the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge and completion of I-49 South improvements from Lafayette to New Orleans and I-49 North to the Arkansas state line.

Lawmakers last year passed Act 486 that raised funds for transportation that would help pay for the four projects under Cortez’s bill. However, the act also created a problem.

The act said if a state deficit of $100 million was forecast, only $150 million would go to fund transportation and the rest would go to the state general fund. Abraham’s amendment removed that trigger from last year’s act and keeps the money for infrastructure.

Act 486 of 2021 takes some vehicle state sales tax revenues to fund infrastructure projects. The legislation provided that in fiscal year 2023-24, 30 percent of those funds would go into a Construction Subfund. And in fiscal year 2024-25, 60 percent of those revenues would go into the subfund and every year thereafter.

The Cortez bill is creating a Megaprojects Leverage Fund for those two bridge and two highway projects. It would take 75 percent of those subfunds to build the bridges and make the highway improvements.

A fiscal note to the bill said in fiscal year 2025 it would take $243.8 million of $325.1 million in the subfund and $214.95 million in fiscal year 2026.

Each of those four megaprojects would get 25 percent of those funds every year. The fiscal note says that would result in a deposit of $60.95 million into each account in fiscal year 2025 and $53.74 million in each account in fiscal year 2026 and beyond.

If necessary, those funds can be used to issue bonds to raise money for completing the four projects.

Abraham said after his amendment was approved there could eventually be enough money in the funds to complete the work without bonds.

The State Bond Commission said each $25 million per year within any of the four megaproject accounts would allow for a bond sale of approximately $375 million-$500 million, depending on market conditions.

Some senators expressed concerns that health care and higher education would experience budget cuts if there is a deficit and Abraham’s amendment was approved. Abraham said there has to be enough money to complete those major projects and his amendment puts a priority on infrastructure.

Avoiding the need for tolls has been a high priority for members of the Southwest Louisiana legislative delegation. Abraham said if tolls are necessary, the delegation will ensure the residents they represent won’t have to pay them.

Sen. Bodi White, R-Central, and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said there is always a financial risk, but the amendment makes it possible to complete big projects faster.

Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen, who handled Act 486 last year, agreed there was a risk but said the state for 37 years has failed to prioritize infrastructure and it is time to do it.

Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, said lawmakers are always creating new programs and shortfalls can be avoided with better decisions now.