Engineering Inc. - July/August 2005 - 6

N E WS & N OT E S More Projects in Pipeline As States Enjoy Tax Collection
Increase T ax collections by state gov- ernments grew 8.1 percent, to $593
billion, in fiscal year 2004 a $44 billion increase from 2003, according to
the U.S. Census Bureau. All 50 states experienced an increase. Many state
governments say the extra money will be used for PHILIP GOULD/CORBIS a
variety of services, such as improving roads, reducing school class sizes
and providing tax Massive Louisiana Coastline Engineering Project
Gathering Steam W square miles will be lost unless a hen discussing the
status include funds for the Louisiana JON ARNOLD/GETTY IMAGES mammoth
engineering project is of Louisiana coastline coastline. The WRDA legisla-
begun soon. The project is esti- restoration projects, tion narrowly missed
passage mated to cost about $14 billion ACEC/Louisiana President last year,
but seems to be on tap and would be one of the largest Charles Taylor would
really like for a renewed effort this engineering feats in history. to have
one word taken out of summer. It would involve building a the mix:
Louisiana. breaks to seniors and businesses. But that still hasn't eased
Tay- large network of barriers to keep The fact is that there aren't
According to data from the lor's frustration. Funding for saltwater out of
the marshland, any funding vehicles in place 2004 Annual Survey of State
coastal restoration in his state, reinforcing barrier islands and right
now for coastal restoration Government Tax Collections, he says, won't
become a top pri- diverting millions of tons of here, says Taylor, also
president general sales taxes were up 7.5 ority until Congress and the of
S.E. Huey Co. in Monroe, fresh water and sediment from percent, to $198
billion, and taxes Bush administration reach a La. It seems like a lot of
people the Mississippi River to marshes on individual income were up 8.5
final accord on transportation in Washington view this as a percent, to
$197 billion. These at risk. and highway spending. problem for Louisiana
alone. taxes made up more than two- In April, Louisiana's congres- Until
the TEA-21 issue has But it's not. This is a national thirds of all state
tax collections. sional delegation introduced a been finalized I don't
think the problem. Among the states with the series of bills to initiate
financ- water bills are going to be seri- The massive unchecked ero-
highest percentage increases in tax ing for the project. Also that ously
addressed, he says. I sion along the Louisiana coast- collections over
2003 were month, the Senate Environment don't think anyone wants there
line is losing 25 to 30 square Florida 14 percent , Nebraska and Public
Works Committee to be any trade-offs, which miles a year to the Gulf of
Mex- 11 percent , Arizona 11 per- reported a $7-billion Water could happen
if the two issues ico, according to projections. By cent , Pennsylvania 9.5
percent Resources and Development Act were under the microscope at 2050, an
additional 700 to 900 and New York 8.5 percent . WRDA bill that would the
same time. 6 E N G I N E E R I N G INC. J u l y l August 2005
Engineering Inc. - July/August 2005

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