The poll respondents reported that 19% were willing to learn and 41 percent were somewhat willing. This compares to 22 percent who are not willing and 17 percent who are not willing to pay more taxes. The September poll results were almost identical. The NBC News/SurveyMonkey survey of 1,042 registered voters was released Friday. It has an “error estimation” of plus or minus 4.2 per cent. The poll was conducted in collaboration with Mississippi Today. It found that 22 percent would be willing to pay more taxes for infrastructure such as roads and bridges. 42 percent would agree to some extent. The flipside is that 23 percent are not willing to pay more taxes and 13 percent are not willing at all to. NBC News/SurveyMonkey also asked the infrastructure tax question in September. The results were almost identical (62 percent very willing, 38 percent not too willing or at all willing). A poll found that 59% of Mississippians believe the state government does a poor job maintaining its infrastructure. Eight bridges owned by the state and 468 bridges owned by counties remain closed, despite being deemed unsafe by federal inspectors in April 2018. Gov. Phil Bryant declared an unprecedented state emergency. The 278 bridges that are state-owned and the 1,856 bridges that are county-owned are currently open, but they have been posted. These postings limit the weight that can be carried on bridges to different degrees. This makes it difficult for cargo trucks to find alternate routes, and disrupts commerce throughout the state. According to Mississippi Today, the large number of bridge closings disproportionately impacts black counties and those that vote Democrat. In 1987, the Legislature enacted the current motor fuel tax. According to Willie Simmons (D-Cleveland), Senate Transportation Chair, the cost of maintaining and building roads and bridges have tripled since 1987. Simmons is currently running for Central District Transportation Commissioner. “We are trying to operate at the exact same costs. Simmons stated that we are way past due. The poll didn’t ask respondents what taxes they would pay. There has been discussion about raising the 18.4 cent per gallon gasoline tax in the state, which is fourth-lowest in the country, as part of the ongoing election for governor. This was to address infrastructure needs. Lt. Governor is the Republican candidate for governor. Tate Reeves has been a leader of the tax reduction effort and opposes increasing the gasoline tax. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr., and Robert Foster, his Republican opponents, advocated for increasing the gasoline tax while decreasing other taxes such as the personal income tax. The Democratic front-runner for the gubernatorial nomination, Attorney General Jim Hood, has not ruled out an increase in gasoline tax but stated that he would prefer to explore other options. Hood has supported lowering the 7 percent Mississippi grocery tax. This is the highest state tax on food in America. Bryant cannot run for a third term. Bryant recently stated on social media that “Republicans cut taxes more than 50 times in the past eight years and have $400m in savings and $200m more revenue than last year.” The Legislature has passed approximately 50 tax cuts, taking $325 million from the general fund between 2012 and 2015. The Legislature passed the most significant tax cut in state history in 2016, costing $415 million today. It was fully enacted in 2028. Today’s total general fund amount to $5.9 trillion. Bryant, Reeves and others claim that tax cuts have boosted the state’s economy. Others point out that state programs have been cut by more than $300m due to revenue shortfalls. This leaves unmet needs such as transportation and health care, and infrastructure. To support this important work, you can make a regular donation to the Spring Member Drive today.