With back-to-back unanimous votes, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has approved the supplemental spending requests from the Idaho Transportation Department to spend revenues from last year’s gas tax and registration fee hikes, and from the surplus-eliminator bill lawmakers also approved last year. The tax and fee revenue will go to 27 projects statewide, some of which already are under way; and the surplus money will go to 17 more road and bridge projects across the state totaling $54.7 million.

Rep. Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa, said, “I’m personally excited about these two appropriations, and I think it’s a new beginning for Idaho in our transportation system, and I think ITD will use these funds well.”