Governor considers lottery, taxes on internet sales for road money

Published 6:03 pm Thursday, May 31, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Gov. Phil Bryant says he’s still exploring a special legislative session to provide more state money for Mississippi’s roads and bridges.

Bryant told reporters Thursday that a potential U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing states to collect taxes on internet sales could provide a boost to Mississippi revenues.

The Republican governor says he could ask lawmakers to dedicate that money to transportation, along with proceeds from a state lottery and newly legalized sports betting.

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Bryant says those revenues could be “very close” to providing enough money to fix roads and bridges.

They would likely provide the state more than $100 million a year. But that’s short of the $400 million transportation commissioners say is needed to prevent deterioration of the state highway network. Some cities and counties also have expensive needs.