BaRSAA Eligible – Bridge Flood Damage
The 65th session of the Montana Legislature passed House Bill 473 which increased State fuel tax for the first time in 20 years. House Bill 473, known as the Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Act (BaRSAA), provides for a graduated increase in motor fuel tax by fiscal year 2023 (6 cents in gasoline and 2 cents in diesel). This fuel tax increase is projected to boost revenues by almost $30 million on an annual basis; approximately $21 million annually allocated to local governments through the BaRSAA account.
The BaRSAA account will be managed by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and funds will be allocated to cities, towns, counties, and consolidated city-county governments using the same ratios used to distribute existing motor fuel tax revenues. Every governmental entity currently receiving fuel tax revenues will see an increase with HB473.
What can the increase in fuel tax be used for – BaRSAA was crafted to put the money to work on improving Montana’s road and bridge infrastructure.
- Funds can be used to pay for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair of rural roads, city
BaRSAA Eligible – Chip Seal Maintenance
or town streets and alleys; and bridges.
- Funds can also be used as match for federal funds used for the construction of roads and streets that are part of the national, primary, secondary, or urban highway systems.
- For MDT-administered projects, the local government may request that MDT credit its BaRSAA allocation towards its local match for a federally funded project administered by MDT.
- BaRSAA funds cannot be used to purchase capital equipment.
Beginning March 1, 2018, local governments may request distribution of their allocation from MDT. MDT is using the WebGrants online application system to accept requests for distribution of BaRSAA allocations by local governments. This system will allow for electronic entry of the information necessary for the distribution of funds to local governments.
Local governments must match all distributions from the BaRSAA account with a minimum 5% funding match. BaRSAA allocations can be reserved over 2 years but the intent of the law is that local governments use BaRSAA funds in a timely manner to demonstrate improvements to road infrastructure.
More information about BaRSAA, current allocations, and how to submit requests can be found on MDT’s website: https://www.mdt.mt.gov/roadbridge/
Authored by Jeremiah Theys, PE
