Texas is making billions from oil and gas drilling, but counties say rural roads are being destroyed

Texas leads the nation in both oil and natural gas production. In the 2017 budget year, the oil production tax brought the state more than $2 billion in revenue, while the natural gas production tax brought in a little less than $1 billion.

But none of that tax money goes to fixing roads in the areas where the production is occurring. Instead it’s divided among several state funds: the Rainy Day Fund, the State Highway Fund and the Foundation School Program.

“The drilling continues, the fracking continues, there’s more weight on the road and I don’t really see any relief,” said DeWitt County Judge Daryl Fowler. “It’d be nice for the state to realize that they haven’t really contributed anything.” Read more from Texas Tribune