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Most of your points (SadieChow) are excellent. And while I believe that the gasoline tax (it should be increased) is currently and for the next several years the best way to raise revenue to maintain roads, the system we have is not "very equitable" or even close to "equitable." The gasoline tax does not come anywhere near paying the cost of our oil addiction - most of the costs fall upon the taxpayers at large rather than drivers. It would be great to increase the out-of-pocket cost of driving to match the actual costs.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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On April 8, 2007 The Oregonian said we needed to replace Oregon's "dwindling gas tax" because gas tax revenues were falling. They were perpetuating a myth pushed by commercial interests whose agenda is to develop expensive mileage monitoring technology at taxpayer expense.

Big, expensive projects almost always generate strong political support because there is opportunity for special interests and their allies to prosper. Persons within the Oregon Department of Transportation are complicit in spreading this mythology. The media should report the truth, not myths.

The gasoline tax is a relatively efficient, almost foolproof way of collecting revenue. Increasing taxes on fuel consumption encourages fuel efficiency and lower weight vehicles, and thus reduces road maintenance costs, reducing everyone's transportation costs (even those who foolishly drive the gas hogs). It helps minimize pollution, encourages transit ridership and reduces the trade deficit. That is good public policy. Increasing these taxes would advance these objectives and guarantee increased revenues for many more years to come.

On the other hand, the only guarantee from a mileage tax is that more taxpayer dollars will line the pockets of special interests and increase the price of the motor vehicles we purchase.

If we "drive down" the amount of gasoline we purchase it will in fact IMPROVE the local economy. Most of the money spent on gasoline (about 85%) LEAVES our local economy. However, when we use our hard-earned dollars to pay for a fare on transit, nearly all that money goes to LOCAL WAGES that are spent LOCALLY and helps to improve the local economy. The choice is ours: EITHER fund overseas oil sheiks (on 9-11 we learned where some of our gasoline dollars go)OR improve the local economy and thus help help people in our community.

KEEP THE GASOLINE TAX!!!

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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