Island County should look to the state for more money to maintain its county roads.

The Legislature has imposed two hefty gas tax hikes in recent years, of 5 cents and 9.5 cents per gallon, but in light of high inflation in the construction industry not enough of the new gas tax revenue is flowing to the state’s smaller counties.

Bill Oakes, Island County’s Public Works director, recently predicted that the county will have no money for capital improvements by 2016 if inflation continues at its present rate. Just maintaining the existing road structure will be challenge enough. And that’s a rather optimistic assumption in light of the tight petroleum supply and ever-escalating materials and construction costs.

There is some talk that the county could raise local taxes to address the problem, but that’s the wrong approach. The state gas tax is already one of the highest such taxes in the nations, it’s just that revenues are being allocated unfairly.

Billions of dollars are earmarked for mega-projects on the mainland while citizens in smaller counties are being squeezed to help pay for it. It is argued that all will benefit from the resulting decrease in traffic congestion, but none of us will live to see that happen.

A top priority of our 10th District’s delegation to Olympia next year should be redirecting more of the existing gas tax revenues to the counties. We’re already paying enough for roads without raising more taxes.