The state Department of Transportation may have hit hard times in highway funding, but hiring a public relations firm to lobby the Legislature isn't going to win the DOT much support. To the contrary, the agency is only inviting more criticism.

The agency expects that revenues will decline from $1.28 billion to $1 billion next fiscal year, according to The Greenville News. The funding constraints will limit what the department can accomplish next year.

After learning of the likely shortfall in a meeting this week, commissioners discussed the possibility of hiring a public relations firm to encourage the Legislature to provide the agency additional money. The commission and its executives would do better to make their own case to the Legislature.

The DOT may need more money - South Carolina's gas tax is among the lowest in the nation - but the public relations idea is a light bulb that's already gone dead.

The DOT has long believed that an increase in the state gas tax is needed, but has been unable to gain sufficient support in the Legislature to gain its approval going on 20 years. Clearly, the agency has a serious disconnect with the Legislature, even though six of its seven members are legislative appointees. Meanwhile, the governor's appointee on the DOT Commission, Chairman Tee Hooper, has made serious complaints about the agency's management.

Mr. Hooper's objections were instrumental in getting legislative approval for a comprehensive audit of the DOT last year. The process is continuing, and the audit is expected to be completed in September. The DOT commission should sit tight and await the results of the audit, recognizing any campaign for the agency, paid or otherwise, prior to its release would be simply premature.