NATCHEZ — In an attempt to net approximately $1 million in additional roads and bridge funds for the county, Adams County supervisors passed a resolution Tuesday to support a 5-cent per gallon tax increase on gasoline.

District 5 Supervisor Calvin Butler said since 1987, the Mississippi Legislature has not increased the fuel tax, which is 18.4 cents per gallon. Butler said if the tax passes on the state level, more than $1 million in additional road and bridge funds would, on average, come to each county in the state.

Sen. Bob Dearing, D-Natchez, said he did not anticipate the bill being brought forward this year. He said the bill was not introduced last year.

“The mood of the leadership is, ‘No new taxes,’” Dearing said. “The mood could swing, but I don’t think it will.”

Rep. Sam Mims, R-McComb, whose district includes portions of Adams County, said if the bill was brought forward, he would oppose it.

“My first initial reaction to solve a problem is not to raise taxes,” Mims said. “I understand we have issues with our roads and our bridges but I think we need to look where we can find savings in the (Mississippi Department of Transportation) budget.

“People are paying enough taxes. We need to make sure we are spending their tax dollars wisely.”

Butler said the Mississippi Transportation Commission leaders asked the association of supervisors to have all 82 counties in the state pass a resolution to support the effort.

Dearing said he believed if all 82 counties supported the gas tax, the legislative body would have a tough time ignoring the backing of the bill on the local level.

“It would help if all the counties got behind it,” Dearing said. “I think we need something to shore up our highways and bridges, no doubt about that.”

While the supervisors said increasing taxes would be difficult, the state is not putting enough money for state aid roads for counties to keep up with basic maintenance.

District 1 Supervisor Mike Lazarus said with a gas tax, it is at least fair because people who are not using the roads are not putting gas in their vehicles and would not have to pay it.

Dearing said he has received communications both for and against the tax.

“I would say the majority of folks out there, if they saw what they were getting with the improvements to our roads and bridges, then they would certainly be in favor of it down the road,” Dearing said. “That’s what happened in 1987 — people saw what they were getting and they supported it.”

Dearing was referencing a monumental infrastructure bill the Legislature passed in 1987 which led to significant four-laning projects on state highways.

Mims said with the way gas fluctuates in price, adding an additional cost is the wrong approach.

“Right now gas may be at a decent level in price, but who is to say in the next couple of months it could not go up high again?” Mims said. “To add another tax burden on our citizens, I am definitely not in favor.”