For not one penny of additional taxes, West Virginian’s can choose on Oct. 7 to immediately have better roads and more jobs!

On Saturday, Oct. 7, state voters can help repair and improve our state roads while providing a greatly needed boost to the West Virginia economy by supporting the Roads to Prosperity Amendment. Your support of this initiative will enable bond proceeds to go directly into the state road fund to begin immediate construction and improvement of our roads, bridges, and highways. These funds can be used to qualify West Virginia for matching federal dollars for highways and bridges. The Roads to Prosperity Amendment is part of a comprehensive repair plan for West Virginia roads and infrastructure. These funds will provide significant money to the State Road Fund to work on many important road repair projects in each of our state’s 55 counties.

As anyone with a busted tire, broken axle or cracked windshield will angrily tell you, West Virginia’s roads are in terrible condition. The time to take action on these infrastructure problems has long past. One may ask how will we pay for it. The good news is that the payment has already been made. During the special session, your Legislature put party affiliation aside and took the bold action to do what’s right for all West Virginians by passing a new funding source for the State Road Fund. The $130 million per year from these adjustments to the State Road Fund will be more than enough to cover our annual obligation on the bonds. Consequently, there will be no increase in taxes or fees to pay for this bond when the Roads to Prosperity Amendment passes.

According to a recent report from Duke University, each dollar invested in roads yields an additional $2.51 in economic output and each job created, by direct investment, causes another 2.5 jobs to be added to the local economy. Thanks to the previously enacted West Virginia Jobs Act, the many jobs that will be created have a high likelihood of being filled by job-seeking citizens of West Virginia. Making this investment in ourselves is critically important to propel our state economy forward.

Your legislature is intensely focused on bringing unbridled growth, jobs, and prosperity to West Virginia. Voting yes on October 7 can help all of us achieve this goal. Voting yes is voting for as many as 48,000 new short- and long-term jobs. It’s voting yes for expanded tourism opportunities and better roads for our visitors. It’s voting yes for economic development and access for all West Virginians. Above all, it’s voting yes for safety. Our families need and deserve safe roads and highways. Voting yes is a strong way to show that you as a citizen, and as a voter, are ready to be a vital part of the solution to construct and repair the West Virginia highway system.

We encourage you to participate in moving West Virginia forward by voting yes on Oct. 7. You have a chance to help our great state write the next chapter of its history. We cannot get to the West Virginia we want to build without the roads to get us there. Our state’s future awaits us, and it’s as simple as saying yes. Please join with us and support the Roads to Prosperity Amendment on Saturday, Oct. 7.

Senators Carmichael, Blair, Boso, Clements, Cline, Drennan, Ferns, Gaunch, Jeffries, Mann, Maroney, Miller, Mullins, Palumbo, Plymale, Swope, Sypolt, Takubo, Trump and Weld