Gov. James Douglas said last week that he wants to tap Vermont’s general fund to pay the state’s share of transportation projects that got a boost with new federal funding.

Douglas is expected to ask leaders of the General Assembly’s financial panels to authorize transferring $5 million, The Associated Press reported. Vermont could use the money to get bridges, highway and rail projects started by next spring.

The move will be an interim one so initial work can begin on the various projects.

Once lawmakers return in January 2006 for the regular legislative session, decisions will be made about how to come up with as much as $15 million to be applied toward the state’s share of projects authorized by the federal transportation law approved this year by Congress.

Douglas has rejected suggestions the per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel fuel be modified to perform more like the sales tax.

He said it would make the fuel tax revenues more volatile than they already are now.