Patrick Colbeck: How to Raise Road Money Without Raising Taxes
State senator: The path to modernizing our transportation infrastructure demands true innovation.
Submitted by State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton: I still recall my orientation session shortly after being elected. I was treated to a non-partisan symposium on the need to raise taxes as the de facto solution for all of our budgetary ailments. In fact, the options for transportation funding were not very innovative…raise gasoline taxes, raise sales taxes, create a new tire tax or raise registration fees. As an advocate of consumption-driven tax policy, I understand the logic of tying these revenue sources with road funding. It is worth noting, though, that we already invoke “user fees” to fund our roads to the tune of $.19/gallon ($825 million) and close to $1 billion from transportation-related registration fees, licenses and the like…
Kristen Truong
11:14 am on Monday, February 25, 2013
Ok. So, let's bring everyone back to earth here. I love the idea of thinking out of the box, but these ideas are out of reality. Mr. Colbeck's proposals are: 1. Take ALL additional revenue from an improving economy, and give it to MDOT. Sounds nice, but do you really think that will fly? Do you really think NO OTHER department want to get an increase from the general fund if there's more cash … more ›