Three local organizations that called for a hike in the state gasoline tax last week have the facts on their side. It is a shame that facts fall on deaf ears in the General Assembly.

The Beaufort County Legislative Delegation understands the problem caused by a state that grossly underfunds its Department of Transportation. But too many legislators prefer to ignore the facts, and the results are deadly.

"South Carolina ranks at the bottom nationally in overall spending per mile on roads, but has more than 40,000 miles of state-maintained roadway, more than all but four large states," according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). "It's also the most dangerous state in the Southeast to drive in, mile for mile."

It is little wonder that the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Island Committee are pleading for change.

Due to a lack of funds, the highway department has delayed for three years routine resurfacing jobs. William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head Island must be a resurfacing priority, but what good is that if the state has no money to provide the service?

That illustrates the sham state lawmakers are pulling. They are refusing a state gas tax hike without acknowledging that all that does is put more pressure on taxpayers at the local level. Local taxpayers have twice been asked recently to pay a temporary sales tax to fund roads. One referendum passed and the other failed. Both times, an outcry came that local taxes should not take up the slack for a state responsibility.

In York County, which borders Charlotte and is experiencing great growth, local taxpayers contribute long-term to road improvements through a penny sales tax. The Savannah area has a similar tax, and the Statesboro, Ga., area has made a lot of improvements through a local option sales tax. Beaufort County needs it as well. But that does not -- and should not -- excuse the state legislature from failing to live up to its responsibilities.

The state fuel tax has not changed since 1987. It has been stuck at 16 cents per gallon with no index for inflation or fluctuation with the price of gasoline. Worse still, the legislature diverts some of that money for other purposes.

Legislators this year are saying they can't act because these are tough economic times. But they've been saying that for 15 years. And business leaders are pointing out that roads are vital to economic prosperity. The General Assembly ignores that concrete suggestion, yet will entertain the theory that cutting the tax rate will spur the economy.

It is bad enough that the General Assembly is failing in its responsibility for transportation. It is worse that it prefers to ignore facts.