State Pensions Could Pay For New Toll Roads

AUSTIN, Texas – State lawmakers are considering using state worker pension money to build roads in Texas. The plan could affect employees at four of the ten largest employers in El Paso County, that’s nearly 25,000 workers.

The state senate’s finance committee floated the idea earlier this week in Austin. Some senators want to use the state’s pension budget as capital to build toll roads. Once the roads are built and paid for, the state would keep collecting tolls.

Proponents say the state would then be able to use that money to help keep paying out pension benefits to retirees around the state. One former educator told KVIA reporter Martin Bartlett that he’s in favor of the state investing his money aggressively, but not in toll roads.

“I don’t want the money wasted. If they are looking at toll roads that people might or might not drive on, (then) that’s a bad investment,” said retired teacher Mark Hutman.

This program is just in the planning phases.