Re: Increasing the metro sales tax for road improvements-- Don't do it!
[background- Laurie Blake, in her 'Getting There' column in the STrib, has
been discussing a proposal (by Sens. Dave Johnson and Roy Terwilliger) at
the legislature to raise the sales tax for road improvements-
http://www.startribune.com/viewers/qview/cgi/qfolder.cgi?template=column_bla
k_f&folder=781 .]
Minneapolis residents would feel the impact of such a metro-area tax change,
thus comments on this list are germane. State legislators should not
approve a bill allowing a seven-county referendum to add a half-percent
sales tax to pay for metro road and transit improvements. If such a bill is
passed, voters should vote NO at the polls.
First of all the sales tax represents a regressive tax that overly impacts
lower-income consumers, many of whom don't even own a car or drive.
Secondly, and most importantly, those that use the roadways should pay to
maintain and enhance them.
A increase in the gasoline/diesel tax would make drivers and businesses that
use the roadways responsible for funding roadway improvements.
Additionally, a higher gasoline/diesel tax and the associated higher cost of
gasoline/diesel fuels should influence people to drive less and seek
alternative transit options. A increase in the gasoline/diesel tax, applied
within an approximate 15-county metro area would impact a high percentage of
metro drivers and the commuting roadways they rely on. The goal should be
to make the people that use the roadways pay proportionately to maintain
them. If a increase to the gasoline/diesel tax must be applied on a
statewide basis, so be it-- roads and bridges throughout the state need
improvement! Let the drivers and users of the roadways pay for them.
Michael Hohmann
13th Ward
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