CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Charleston construction company owner is opposing the state road bond issue because he believes money will run out in a few years to maintain West Virginia’s roads.
“I’m afraid if we borrow a large chunk of money and spend it all at once on some improvements and some new construction that a few years from now, when we’re paying debt service, there just won’t be anywhere close to enough money left to maintain that system,” said Nate Orders, president of Orders Construction Company.
West Virginians head to the polls on Oct. 7 for a Special Election on the road bond amendment. The plan allows state officials to borrow $1.6 billion for road construction in the Mountain State.
Orders said he plans to oppose it. He said he believes the state will end up with roads “worse than they are right now.”
“Unless the Legislature steps up with more funding, we’re going to be starving again,” Orders said on Thursday’s “580 Live” with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones heard on MetroNews affiliate 580-WCHS.
Orders said he supports the recent move to raise DMV fees and the wholesale gasoline tax, but he still fears a significant debt in years to come.
“A salute them for that. I just don’t want to see all of that go into debt service for the next 10 or 20 years,” he said.
The bond proposal has been one of Governor Jim Justice’s priorities since he was elected.
Early voting begins on Sept. 22 and runs through Oct. 4.
The deadline to register to vote in the Special Election is Monday.