LITTLE ROCK — The head of a committee pushing to raise the state's severance tax on natural gas companies says he will deliver more than 70,000 signatures in support of the measure, qualifying it for the November ballot.

Sheffield Nelson, a former gas company executive who chairs the Committee for a Fair Severance Tax group, said in a statement that he plans to deliver on Friday petitions in support of raising the severance taxes paid by natural gas companies.

Sheffield said his group has collected more than 70,000 signatures, surpassing the required 62,507 to place an item on the ballot.

The signatures are scheduled to be presented to the Secretary of State's office at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

If the measure passes in November, the additional revenue wil be directed to repair and construct state and county roads and city streets, the group has said.