Buena Vista County officials are supporting efforts to increase the state gas tax to raise more money for road improvements
          On February 15th, the Senate Transportation Committee voted to raise the tax by ten cents a gallon.  Last week, the House transportation subcommittee passed an eight-cent increase. 
          Buena Vista County Engineer Jon Ites says it's not a tax, but a user fee… and 25 to 30-percent of the revenue raised comes from out of state motorists.  Ites recently told the Supervisors the county keeps getting behind in blacktop overlay projects… and is now more than 30 miles behind where they should be… and has indicated the county would benefit from an increase in road use dollars.
          An Iowa Poll of 800 adults taken last week by the Des Moines Register indicated 68-percent are opposed to raising the gas tax, and only 31-percent are in favor.  Supervisor Ken Hach said people understand the state needs the revenue… but opposed it when they see gas prices go up ten cents in a day.
          The Iowa fuel tax was last changed in 1989, when gas averaged $1.02 a gallon.  The Triple-A Motor Club Wednesday morning reported the average price for regular unleaded in Iowa is $3.49, up 28-cents from a month ago.