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Panel Approves Roughly $50 Million Transportation Bill

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A state Senate panel has approved a roughly $50 million road and bridge funding package that’s based on Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s transportation proposal.

The Senate Transportation Committee on Friday approved some changes to the governor’s plan, which raises transportation funding through a variety of increases in fuel taxes, fees and other assessments.

It now heads to the full Senate for more debate.

The committee’s proposal ends in 2023 a 2-cent fuel tax increase the governor had proposed to remain ongoing. Lawmakers also added about $1.5 million in revenue for local infrastructure through additional vehicle fee increases that would start in 2016. The committee also expanded a wheel tax that could raise $400,000 if fully implemented at the local level and limited slightly a registration fee increase from the governor’s plan.