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.
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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com
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