Gas taxes and roads...

[glowing]

There was a report on the local station that said a certain county had increased the tax on gasoline to the maximum ammount allowed to generate more revenue for the roads. The roads commissioner said that, even though they increased the tax, they are collecting less revenue. Which means that people are driving less because of the cost.

Does it make sense to tax the gas for roads anymore, given consumers try to use less gas when the price goes up? And with tax on gas for roads, it makes it almost impossible for a state to endorse alternative fuel cars. I think the time for gas tax to pay for roads is expired.

How should revenue be generated? Per mile perhaps? A general tax to pay along with registration?

[silverweb]

1. Tricky one.

Mileage makes the most sense, but how to assess and collect it is the difficult part.

A once-yearly lump sum for mileage would be a huge burden to most people, whereas the pennies per gallon gas tax is less painful.

It's going to take some creative thinking to work this one out.

[glowing]

3. I agree. But I think its time for the system to be changed...

Mileage makes sense, but checking the mileage would be hard.

[youngdem]

4. I argue the present system is best

A mileage based system punishes those who have made an investment in hybrids or more efficient cars unfairly, while their lighter cars do less damage. Conversely, an 18 wheeler should not pay the same as a Kia compact, because those things wreck roads.

By the gallon punishes inefficient vehicle owners, charges more the more you drive and encourages people to save money by investing in efficient vehicles.

Liability insurance should also be done this way. Included in the gas, the more you drive or the bigger vehicle you drive or the faster you drive, the more you pay. The tax could be adjusted to the actual damages from the previous year, so the public would only pay the minimum required instead of enriching insurance companies who are gonna fuck you anyway.

[glowing]

6. And the goal is to move away from any cars using any kind of

oil... so, as this happens, how do you pay for it?

[youngdem]

7. The system will inevitably (and joyfully) have to be downsized

Hopefully, much of the current networks of streets that fill our cities with concrete will return to the city as bike paths, greenspace, community gardens and the like. That way, the total mileage to maintain is reduce.

We aren't getting rid of cars. It's impossible due to the layout of our cities and suburbs. But we can transition to electric cars, more mass transit, and hopefully a lot fewer concrete highways dividing up our towns.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. Per mile? Tax on the working class, that would be and no thanks!

8 billion a month in Iraq would pay for lots of repairs to our infrastructure, don't you think? Choke the Military Industrial Complex, it's long past time!

[glowing]

5. But the working class is already paying this everytime they fill

their car up.

And it is time to stop the war... we aren't paying for it, just charging it... the credit card is maxed out... time to decline card.

[tech3149]

8. KISS---- Keep It Simple Stupid

The best options are the most simple. Tax the fuel itself and you inspire people and companies to use the most fuel efficient vehicles and limit their driving. Tax the registration based on GVW and load capacity, that puts a higher cost on those that cause the greatest wear and tear on the roads. If you compare fuel and vehicle fees to Europe, we've been getting off scot-free for decades. I don't want to pay more for gas or registration, but if it slaps some sense into the general public, I'm willing to take the hit. They're have been ideas presented over the last few years that were costly technocentric boondoggles that would suck up half or more of the revenues generated to implement and maintain themselves. For those states that require a yearly inspection a per mile fee might be functional, but it doesn't provide a means for charging out of state vehicles for road usage. I would say from my experience that 5-10% of traffic on minor roadways is out of state. On interstates, it can be as much as 30% and that is mostly high GVW commercial traffic. Here in PA, we've got roads and bridges that are almost unuseable and unsafe. It's been decades since anyone has been willing to address the problem honestly. Make those that use the resource the most and cause the greatest damage pay the most to support it.