Yeah, I don't get that thing that a toll will never go away. I haven't driven on a toll road in Ky in 20 years or more. Lots of old bridges I remember from my childhood that were toll are no longer such. We don't have to do it the Ohio/Penn/NY way.

 

The Pennyrile went away a long time ago. I barely remember them and I'm 40. The Natcher and Audubon were taken out in the last 10 maybe? It's been pretty recent. Use to cost me $2/way to go to Bowling Green when I was dating my wife and she was going to Western.

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?

 

I understand your post...if I am in town A, I would like the incentive to be to re-develop the mall or the strip plaza that shut down 5 years ago and took the surrounding properties with it rather than plow under the farm land and woods on the outskirts of town so that we also need to widen the road and install lights to take care of the traffic and the tractor trailers that service the businesses.

It's got more edges than that.

 

A developer gets tax breaks to build a shopping center or factory in an area.

 

More developers are given more tax breaks as housing is needed for the new workers attracted to the area. More times than not, over building occurs. (My real issue.)

 

Infrastructure is expanded to accommodate the increased population, at tax payer expense. Or not and the road ways, water, sewage, and utilities get over-stressed to the point of failure.

 

The shopping center or factory fails, or the factory owner gets a better deal somewhere else and moves.

 

The vacant homes go into default, are bought by the local government, and made into low income housing.

 

We now have urban blight.

 

This is not an example of an isolated case. It happens all the time. I live right in the middle of it and fight it every day.

 

Developers get rich...banks charge-off their losses and the government picks it up....everyone else suffers.

Not sure if this has been said or not. But, the gas tax is about 40 cents per gallon. This is combined state and federal. The problem is, this tax is not dependent on price. If gas is 1 dollar a gallon, the tax is still 40 cents. If gas is 4 dollars a gallon, the tax is still 40 cents. When the prices are high, people buy less gas. So as time goes by, more roads are built but the price gets higher. This leaves less money per mile to maintain the roads. The KY cabinet of transportation has billions of dollars of work lined up. But this comes out of tax money. I know working for the cabinet gets you great experience. But a starting Civil Engineer is paid below the average to say the least. There is a problem with kids working for the cabinet for a while then leaving for the private sector when they get the chance.

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?

 

That always big government's answer to everything, raise taxes, How about leaving that money in each citizens pockets to spend how the see fit? Maybe they need to repair a car, repair something on the house or make a trip to the dentist.

 

Government could fund only what is needed. For example, the widening of US 27 from southern Campbell Co. to northern Pendleton Co., while it would be an improvement, it can wait since there are limited funds.

Ky. has worked on shaving the budget in recent years, is there some cuts to made at the state level. What state programs can be scaled back or eliminated? Just as a family budget has to be scaled back and some purchases delayed, so must the state.

 

Let workers keep what they earn, that is more pro-worker than liberal programs that take and then give back, pretending all free.

However we rebuild the infrastructure, it doesn't matter. BUT it does need to start soon. When an infrastructure starts to fall apart, that county will as well.

That always big government's answer to everything, raise taxes, How about leaving that money in each citizens pockets to spend how the see fit? Maybe they need to repair a car, repair something on the house or make a trip to the dentist.

 

Government could fund only what is needed. For example, the widening of US 27 from southern Campbell Co. to northern Pendleton Co., while it would be an improvement, it can wait since there are limited funds.

Ky. has worked on shaving the budget in recent years, is there some cuts to made at the state level. What state programs can be scaled back or eliminated? Just as a family budget has to be scaled back and some purchases delayed, so must the state.

 

Let workers keep what they earn, that is more pro-worker than liberal programs that take and then give back, pretending all free.

 

Completely agree. Daughter, 22, FT student, PT worker calls me the other day thrilled she had some cash left after filling tank. So a liberal at the 1st thought of a hardworking earner has an extra dime in their pocket, wants to take that dime and redistribute that dime? Give me a break!!!

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.

 

Kentucky gas tax to drop 4.3 cents per gallon next year.

 

"But with the state gas tax set to fall 4.3 cents per gallon on Jan. 1 -- cutting back the total amount of taxes and fees that the state collects on motor fuels to 27.6 cents, down from the current 31.9 cents -- legislators from both parties are saying it might be time to change how the state calculates those rates. "

 

I thought the tax was set by the gallon alone - not the wholesale price of a gallon.

 

I think they should look at fixing the tax to a set rate per gallon - regardless of the price. That is probably more steady and allows for better planning.

 

People are driving less. Its called a recession. So less gas is being sold. And now its cost that drives taxes is less - a double whammy to a fund that needs a set, mostly fixed, amount of revenue to do its job. I am not a tax and spender - but this is one tax and funding mechanism that needs to work and work to provide proper funding. Allowing bridges and other critical infrastructure to deteriorate due to lack of funding is not a good option.

Toll roads is bad example, at least in KY. The Pennyrile Pkwy, Audubon Pkwy, and Natcher Pkwy all use to have tolls. All have gone away in my life time.

 

Kentucky has this funny thing of sticking to the original agreement. When the parkway system was set up the deal was the toll would pay the bonds for the original construction and initial maintenance I believe. Once the bonds were paid off the tolls were to end. And everyone stuck to the deal. Probably unlike famous places like Chicago or NJ.

 

I recall that on one of the parkways - maybe the Bluegrass - they hooked up chains to the toll booths and tore them down THE DAY the bonds were paid off. It may have been a statement of - 'don't even think about reneging on the deal'.

The various departments and agencies that would be involved. We have a gas tax now, it would be interesting to see how much actually gets used for roads vs the amount collected.

 

That is why I asked what bureaucracy. We have a gas tax now. All we would do is raise the tax.

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:

 

And you just got a cut of over $1 a gallon on what you are paying at the pump. If those taxes went to 50 cents a gallon, you still are paying less out of pocket than you were two months ago.

I am all for lowering taxes and keeping waste to a minimum. But having worked in the industry and seeing how these funds are distributed, do not complain when you have poor infrastructure systems (roads, utilities, bridges, etc.) in place. Some things you have to spend money on. Again, once you start cutting off water supply for people we will see how important devoting money for these improvements are. Along the way you can thank the EPA folks for making it even more costly on you

I am as conservative as anyone but I had an Idea about 7 years ago. Instead of Bush and Obama giving away BILLIONS to prop up companies and giving BILLIONS away for nothing both men should have poured that money into this nations infrastructure. The economy wins, construction workers win, and we get new infrastructure.

And you just got a cut of over $1 a gallon on what you are paying at the pump. If those taxes went to 50 cents a gallon, you still are paying less out of pocket than you were two months ago.

 

For almost everyone that would mean an extra $8-10 a week or double that for a couple. Great news for all drivers, but especially so for the lower income workers. For the year that is an extra $800-1000 in their pocket for household expenses, without having to put in more time at work. I think that is reasonable way to help everyone and no government regulation or programs

Oil went below $60 at least for a time.

 

Given the formula that resets taxes I would favor a floor or even a rollback of the tax rate due at the beginning of the year. Infrastructure costs - maintenance cost - does not get cheaper just because oil and gas are cheaper.

 

Also, any new major new builds of infrastructure (thinking the bridges in Louisville) should be looked at carefully. Politicians get all sorts of fan fare for new bridges. But they do not for ensuring the same bridges are properly and safely maintained. We need to fix what is out there first. Any and all new major infrastructure will only increase the burden and risk since the day after a bridge opens it needs maintenance.