DES MOINES -- Gov. Terry Branstad said Wednesday he expects Iowa will have enough extra transportation money to meet critical needs next year without having to consider a boost in the state gas tax during the upcoming election-year legislative session.

However, Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, said he expected a bipartisan group of House and Senate members would push for a phased gas tax increase after lawmakers convene Jan. 9 that would propose a 5-cents-per-gallon increase beginning Jan. 1, 2013, and another nickel increase on Jan. 1, 2014. He said there are indications the bill would get favorable treatment if it makes it to the governor's desk.

He said "down the road" he expects a phased increase in the "highway user fee" could need to be considered to address a projected $200 million yearly shortfall. The governor also indicated he supported putting the money generated by controversial traffic-monitoring cameras directly into the state road use tax fund to be redistributed by formula to Iowa communities as a way to address public concerns the devices are being installed for revenue rather than safety reasons.

Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, who tried unsuccessfully to ban traffic-monitoring cameras last legislative session, said he believes there will be a push in 2012 to channel revenue from the devices into the statewide road fund and establish uniform guidelines and restrictions on how and where they are operated.

McCoy said he expected lawmakers would consider legislation to place a moratorium on more communities installing the cameras, limiting fines and enforcement practices, and possibly considering an outright ban.

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