Gov. Kay Ivey and other officials announced a plan to increase funding for roads, bridges and other state infrastructure by raising the state’s gasoline tax 10 cents per gallon over three years.

The state gasoline tax, which is 18 cents per gallon, would increase by 6 cents this year, 2 cents in 2020 and 2 cents in 2021. The plan also links the tax to a national index on highway construction costs. That could increase the tax no more than 1 cent every two years, Ivey said.

The same increases would apply to the tax on diesel fuel, which is now 19 cents per gallon.

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, a supporter of the plan, said each 1-cent increase would generate an estimated $32 million in new revenue, so the full 10-cent increase would raise more than $300 million.

Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, the bill’s sponsor, said the plan calls for 66 percent of the new revenue to go to the state, 25 percent to counties and 8 percent to cities. A separate portion will go to finance a bond issue to widen and deepen the shipping channel in Mobile Bay to allow more shipping traffic and faster turnaround in the state port.

Poole said associations representing cities and counties had agreed on the formula.

Ivey, McCutcheon, Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh and other legislative leaders announced the Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure plan this morning at a press conference by an aging bridge on a county road in Maplesville, two turns off the main highway between Tuscaloosa and Montgomery.

The Republican governor and the Republican leaders of the Legislature say the state gasoline tax does not provide enough money to support a road system adequate for today’s traffic volume and competitive economy. The 18 cents-per-gallon tax hasn’t changed since 1992.

The total gas tax in Alabama, including federal and local taxes, is lower than in most states.

Ivey said increasing the investment in infrastructure is vital to promoting economic growth and making roads safer.

“Y’all, this is an issue that is felt by every Alabamian," Ivey said. "Every Alabamian is affected. That makes it clearly a bipartisan issue. That means an issue that we can all get behind and all find a solution to.”

Republican leaders in the Alabama House proposed gas tax increases in 2016 and 2017 but they did not pass. The governor and lawmakers had not announced a specific proposal for this year before today.

There is opposition in the Republican Party.

On Saturday, the state Republican Executive Committee passed a resolution opposing a gas tax increase without an offsetting tax decrease, which was not mentioned as part of the plan today.

“It’s very clear that they’re staying as close as they can to their original broken record of a significant increase in the per capita tax burden under the auspices and justification of infrastructure,” said Tom Fredricks of Decatur, who sponsored the resolution passed by the GOP.

Fredricks said the Legislature should first look at ways to make better use of current tax dollars, partly by working to eliminate tax earmarks that dedicate revenues to a specific purpose and restrict the ability of legislators to put money where it’s most needed.

“It’s a blatant attempt to give no consideration to finding and improving the process internally, to dismantling some of the earmarking structure that’s created this conundrum and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of government. They are simply taking the easy way out,” Fredricks said.

Other opposition surfaced today.

Stop the Alabama Gas Tax, a newly formed political action committee, issued a news release.

“Governor Kay Ivey has just proposed the largest gas tax increase in the history of Alabama, more than double that of any Democrat governor in the state’s history,” Ralph Long, chairman of the PAC said. “Her proposal is a knife in the back to voters. We elected her to clean up Montgomery’s abundant fiscal woes, not increase our taxes to satisfy Montgomery lobbyists.”

Proponents of the plan said this morning they’re not choosing the easy way.

“This is a hard issue,” Ivey said. “I know that. But it’s an issue that we will have to work hard to get it through but we will be successful because it is the right thing to do.”

McCutcheon, standing near the aging Chilton County bridge this morning, noted that there’s a cost in time and money when school buses take longer routes to avoid substandard bridges.

“This is about coming right down to the quality of life of a family,” McCutcheon said. “These are the things that we need to be looking at. And we look at moving commerce up and down our highways. When we look at unemployment in some of the counties of our state and try to recruit business, our infrastructure is vital to where we are.”

McCutcheon and Marsh thanked Ivey for her stance.

“We want to come in and address this issue in a proactive manner and not be called into a special session because a school bus has gone through a bad bridge," Marsh said.

Marsh said Ivey had directed his office to research the need for more infrastructure funding. He said lawmakers will have ample information.

“Our legislators when we go into session will have all the things needed to make educated decisions and support this piece of legislation," Marsh said.

Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate, expressed support for the plan. Singleton said he supported the plan from a statewide perspective and because of how it could help the low-income families in his district.

“I have hundreds of miles of dirt roads that are in my district,” Singleton said. "We could have easily found bridges in west Alabama that look like this or even wooden bridges that look like this. But I know that this governor has the commitment and heart to come forth with this and as the speaker said, it is not the easiest thing to do. "

Poole, the bill sponsor, was not able to attend this morning’s press conference.

In a telephone interview this afternoon, Poole said the proposal for a phased-in 10-cent increase was based on infrastructure needs, comparisons with neighboring states and keeping the state competitive.

“Ultimately, I think we landed on that as the most fair and reasonable number that we could present to the citizens of the state," Poole said.

Poole said some details are still in the works. He said he hopes to have a bill ready by Friday.

“It’s a difficult issue,” Poole said. “I expect a lot of discussion. And I think that discussion and even some disagreement is fair.”

Poole said he believes there is a cost associated with not addressing the issue.

“So, the cost of doing nothing is not nothing,” Poole said. "It will stunt our economic growth. Stunt our future prosperity. Continue to subject our citizens to congested and dangerous roads. And so, I look forward to having the debate and I’m very optimistic about it."

Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, will sponsor the bill in the Senate.

Ivey has spoken about the need for more infrastructure funding many times, including during her inaugural address in January.

The legislative session begins Tuesday.

Ivey Press Secretary Daniel Sparkman said there has been discussion about the governor calling a special session on the infrastructure plan but that she would not do so today.

A follow-up press conference is planned for Friday.

A special session could provide one possible advantage for advocates of a tax increase. During a regular session, every bill that passes before the state budgets must clear a procedural hurdle called the budget isolation resolution that requires approval by three-fifths of those voting. There is no such requirement during a special session and a tax bill could pass by a simple majority.

Asked today if she was considering calling a special session, Ivey said that option was on the table.

This story was updated at 3:41 p.m. to add quote from Tom Fredricks. Updated at 5:39 p.m. to add information from Rep. Bill Poole and video. Updated at 5:46 p.m. with comment from Stop the Alabama Gas Tax committee.