Opportunity has arrived. Our roads infrastructure is in horrible condition. Bridges are falling down. People are used to paying near $3.50+ for gas. With gas prices likely $3 or less for the foreseeable future, the federal government should implement a gas tax and use the money to rebuild the roads. That cost is built into everyone's budget and a gas tax would have zero impact on the economy. In fact, it would be a boost to the economy by adding construction projects. We just had an election so all the do nothings in Washington might actually feel safe enough to take action. Now is the time to get it done but it will need to be a Republican leading the way to make it happen. It is time for a gas tax. Who is with me?

When and who decides when the gas tax goes away? What if gas goes back up to $3.50+, before the tax?

Your tax is counting on gas prices staying put? Good luck with that.

When and who decides when the gas tax goes away? What if gas goes back up to $3.50+, before the tax?

 

All things to work out. Maybe you implement a cap that says if some benchmark on prices hits a certain level the tax is suspended. As to how long it stays in place, with the condition of roads and bridges in this nation, it probably won't last long enough to fund all the needs.

The problem is how much of the difference would eventually get spent on the infrastructure? My gut feel is that much of the revenue would go towards government bureaucracy rather than bridges.

The problem is how much of the difference would eventually get spent on the infrastructure? My gut feel is that much of the revenue would go towards government bureaucracy rather than bridges.

 

Explain. What bureaucracy?

The problem is how much of the difference would eventually get spent on the infrastructure? My gut feel is that much of the revenue would go towards government bureaucracy rather than bridges.

Bingo!! Just like Toll roads etc. that have never gone away after raising more than enough money to pay for the road they are tolled for in the first place.

 

Anytime the Government has a source of income, even though it is supposed to be temporary, will hardly ever do away with the source once it is implemented. Remember federal taxes were just supposed to be a temporary thing also. I don't see that going away anytime soon.

The problem is how much of the difference would eventually get spent on the infrastructure? My gut feel is that much of the revenue would go towards government bureaucracy rather than bridges.

 

Agreed, dont we pay a gas tax now? Where is that money going?

This is a stretch...but:

 

I am in favor of a land development tax of some sort.

 

What I see is that, especially in Lex., a lot of money being spent on infrastructure to support the growth of what I will call urban sprawl. The growth adds to the tax base, but it consumes land which is apparently cheaper to develop than to re-develop already supported areas IN the city. I think it is too easy to plow up open space instead of re-developing abandoned properties.

 

This money could be used to repair existing roads.

Your tax is counting on gas prices staying put? Good luck with that.

 

The tax is already tied to prices and updates (I believe) once every six months. Kentucky's roads and bridges fund is in trouble with the low prices come next year.

This is a stretch...but:

 

I am in favor of a land development tax of some sort.

 

What I see is that, especially in Lex., a lot of money being spent on infrastructure to support the growth of what I will call urban sprawl. The growth adds to the tax base, but it consumes land which is apparently cheaper to develop than to re-develop already supported areas IN the city. I think it is too easy to plow up open space instead of re-developing abandoned properties.

 

This money could be used to repair existing roads.

 

Sprawl is a massive problem in a lot of ways. Paying for all the new access to them is a big part of it. I'm for anything that makes more sense in that area. Eastern Jefferson County is constantly under road-widening projects due to the sprawl.

Opportunity has arrived. Our roads infrastructure is in horrible condition. Bridges are falling down. People are used to paying near $3.50+ for gas. With gas prices likely $3 or less for the foreseeable future, the federal government should implement a gas tax and use the money to rebuild the roads. That cost is built into everyone's budget and a gas tax would have zero impact on the economy. In fact, it would be a boost to the economy by adding construction projects. We just had an election so all the do nothings in Washington might actually feel safe enough to take action. Now is the time to get it done but it will need to be a Republican leading the way to make it happen. It is time for a gas tax. Who is with me?

 

Already paying 18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax and 24.4 cents federal diesel tax...and you want to nearly triple the gas portion? :no:

Sprawl is a massive problem in a lot of ways. Paying for all the new access to them is a big part of it. I'm for anything that makes more sense in that area. Eastern Jefferson County is constantly under road-widening projects due to the sprawl.

 

Here is what chaps my posterior, city and county commissions that allow developers to build without restriction and require little or no impact fees. The developers should pick up ALL of the cost of impact to a metropolitan area, especially transportation infrastructure, not the tax payers.

So, what to do?

Here is what chaps my posterior, city and county commissions that allow developers to build without restriction and require little or no impact fees. The developers should pick up ALL of the cost of impact to a metropolitan area, especially transportation infrastructure, not the tax payers.

 

I think that is part of the inducement is to get investment in a community...If I'm a developer of shopping centers and can go to town A or town B with my newest project.

 

Town A says you have to spend an extra $5 million

Town B sees the added tax base, jobs and traffic to their community and says they'll take care of the needed $5 million in road work

 

Which town do you develop in?