CA: Proposed state ballot measure would boost car tax to improve roads

[andy3175]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-capitol-business-beat-20131202,0,1279724.story#axzz2mKglsej1

A former head of Caltrans wants to save drivers more than the average of $600 a year he says they now spend fixing flat tires, aligning wheels and repairing other damage caused by potholes and bad pavement. Will Kempton, who ran the state Department of Transportation from 2004 to 2009, has submitted a proposed voter initiative for the 2014 ballot that would raise money to rebuild roads and bridges and boost mass transit. If it qualifies for the ballot and is approved by voters, such an initiative would more than double the state vehicle license fee – known as the car tax – to 1.65% from 0.65% of the value of an auto or truck.

Current transportation spending is inadequate, said Kempton, because lawmakers have raided a traditional funding source, the gas tax, and people are driving more fuel-efficient cars that generate less revenue.

California should be spending more on transportation maintenance, said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., but not if it means higher taxes. "We already have some of the highest taxes in America," Coupal said.

Regards,
Andy

[ARMOURERERIC]

And they will knowing write this ballot initiative to allow it to be raided as well or diverted to mass transit.  According to those figures, a CA driver spends twice the repair bill due to bad roads as a PA resident does?  No way.

[cpzilliacus]

And they will knowing write this ballot initiative to allow it to be raided as well or diverted to mass transit.  According to those figures, a CA driver spends twice the repair bill due to bad roads as a PA resident does?  No way.

Even worse, it might get blown on California's High-Speed Rail boondoggle.

[mc78andrew]

There is probably little one can do to secure dedicated funding short of a constitutional measure and that probably could be manipulated as well.

That said, I actually think this type of funding is a good idea versus the gas tax.  Anything to do with cars sould be dedicated tax revenue for transportation.

Car sales tax
Registration fees/car property tax
Sales tax on tires
Drivers license fees
Beer tax (okay that's not related, but still a good idea)
Drive thru tax (well that's unamerican so scrap that one)

Call it a transportation fund tax and you'll get more support from the people. 

[ARMOURERERIC]

And they will knowing write this ballot initiative to allow it to be raided as well or diverted to mass transit.  According to those figures, a CA driver spends twice the repair bill due to bad roads as a PA resident does?  No way.

Even worse, it might get blown on California's High-Speed Rail boondoggle.

Especially when it has been revealed that CA MUST start the HSR in 2014 or have to return 8.5 Billion tot he feds.

[mc78andrew]

Maybe they'll pull a Chris christe ARC move?