No New Taxes For Roads
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By Letters To The Editor
Published: July 2, 2008
On July 9, the General Assembly will reconvene to finalize the state’s transportation bill. Presently, there are plans to raise the state gas tax by 35 percent to an additional 6 cents per gallon. Vehicle registrations will increase $10 per year. Titling taxes will also rise.
I acknowledge that we need to make sure our transportation needs are met, but we do not have to raise taxes in order to maintain our roads. Due to the rising price of fuel, Virginians have had to make many adjustments in our daily lives. Everything has suddenly gotten more expensive. Not only does it cost us more to put gas in our vehicles, but we also have to pay more for food and other basics. We have had to adjust our lifestyles to make ends meet.
Since most of our needs are provided through transportation, the rising cost of fuel has made everything else cost more. Therefore, it does not make any sense to raise the price of fuel for Virginians. We are limited in controlling the price of crude oil, but we can make a difference in the amount of state tax we pay on fuel. Six cents may not seem like much money, but when you consider the rest of the factors, it is a significant increase.
If the fuel tax goes up, the price of goods that are transported will increase. Our food prices will rise even more, and our utility rates will increase. How much more can we afford to pay?
We need to expect our state government to be run like our households. How many of us would like to make some renovations around our home? With four kids, I would like to have an extra bathroom, a remodeled kitchen with a dishwasher, a heat pump, an improved driveway, additional rooms in the basement, etc. We always want to make improvements and additions to our lives. However, most of us know that we cannot always get what we want. Many of us have put off some things because we are unsure of the economy.
Our state legislators need to wake up and do the same thing. Our government does not need to add to its “wish list.” The state budget has increased funding for the pre-K program. This money could be put toward our roads. There are numerous building projects at various schools, colleges and museums in the state. These projects may be nice to have, but it is reckless to proceed with them when funding is not available. We do not need to add anything to the budget until there are extra funds to provide for them.
Call your representatives and tell them to vote “no” on any additional tax increases. We need to tell our representatives to make sensible use of the funds that they have available. Eliminate any waste.
The names and phone numbers of your representatives are in your phone book. For Embarq customers, they are in the pink pages. You can also go to http://www.legis.state.va.us and contact your representatives. Tell them to vote “no” on any tax increase.
Wilma Justus
Rural Retreat, Va.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Wilma ) on July 08, 2008 at 8:45 am
logic04
I would like to clarify a few things that you have expressed in your comments. I do not know the figures, but I would assume that the state has been selling more fuel than it did in 1987. Therefore, even though the per gallon tax may remain the same, the state is still generating more income than in 1987 since there is more fuel sold.
Even though NC may tax at a higher rate than VA and VA stations may be selling at the same price, VA still benefits if the stations are selling at a higher profit. Those profits will be taxed and VA will benefit.
Even though VA may have a less expensive selling price for gas, if a driver from NC or TN comes to VA to buy fuel, then they may buy other items such as a drink, chips, etc., which would add to the VA sales tax.
I am sure that there are also some Virginians who are living on the same income as they did in 1987. Most of us are not, and we are paying state income taxes on our higher income. I also recall that the state sales tax has increased from 4 to 5 cents since 1987.
Va does NOT need to raise taxes to cover the roads. Eliminate other programs that can wait or that are unnecessary. Why pay to add the Pre-K program when mothers can take care of their own children? Other mothers have paid the cost of Pre-K daycare programs for their kids in the past. Here in Wythe County, the 2007-2008 school cost to send one student through the school was $9,110. (This figure was in the student handbook.) If you do the math and divide 36 weeks into that figure, you get $253 per week. Call a day care in the county, and you will get a cost around $75 per week for their Pre-K program. Remember, that the state that has to pay for daycare for some kids. Even if those kids are in Pre-K at a cost of $253 a week, the state will have to also pay for the before or after school care. It just makes sound sense to let those kids go to a private daycare Pre-K program.
Also, don’t we still have Head Start which is for those kids in need. Another thing that is just because a kid comes from a poor family, it does not mean that the kid is dumb.
Here in Rural Retreat, plans are underway to renovate the High School. It is a fact that the school needs something done, but if the state is low on funds, we can wait another year until funds are available.
We all enjoy our museums and libraries, but the state should withhold funding until they have the funds to do so. The local people can always give money to these things.
I am sure that the state will allow any person who wants to pay the extra taxes and fees to do so. That way, it would be a choice; and not something forced upon them.
The best solution for the Virginia Assembly is to eliminate any unnecessary programs and eliminate any waste in state agencies. Therefore, there would be no need for any tax increases.
We need to have a choice as to where we want to spend our money.
Call your legislator to vote “NO” on ANY tax increase!
Wilma Justus
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Posted by ( nuff said ) on July 03, 2008 at 12:39 pm
If you buy a gallon of Starbuck coffee then you did that by choice. We can’t chose not to buy gas, the cars won’t run on air.
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Posted by ( logic04 ) on July 02, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Ms. Justus is correct, our government does need to run like our households. However, how many families could survive today on their 1987 income? That’s what VDOT is doing. Virginia has not had a fuel tax increase since 1987. 17.5 cents per gallon is the current tax rate, adjusted for inflation, that equals about 8 cents per gallon. North Carolina’s rate is 30.15 cents per gallon, and if you notice two gas stations, one in NC and the other in VA, have the same price. Which station has more profit???? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for profit, but come on.....one cent per year over six years....like that’s really going to break us.
Virginians need to act their wage....live within their means...and stop buying ipods and video games. When times get tough, you have to tighten your budget. If you buy a gallon of Starbucks coffee, that’s $53, so a penny per year for six years isn’t asking too much. Here in Christiansburg, the gas can jump 10 cents a day.....what’s a penny a year over six years.
The gas tax is the simplest and most fair “USER FEE” there is. If you drive a gas guzzler you pay more tax and if you drive a small tin can you pay less. The greatest aspect to me.....out-of-state drivers pay too. They get gas in VA, they pay. It’s not soley paid by us great citizens of the Commonwealth.
I hate taxes, but come on, we need to be realistic. Infrastructure breeds commerce which breeds jobs.....without it, and we do have problems.
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Posted by ( dadw5boys ) on July 02, 2008 at 6:22 pm
GET RID OF TENNCARE!!!!!!!!!
LETR THE SYSTEM GO BACK TO MEDICAID!!!!!!!
TENNCARE IS A FAILURE IN COST AND SERVICE ALL IT DOES IS SUPPORT A FEW WEALTHY INSURANCE COMPANYS AND BANKRUPT TAXPAYERS!!!
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Posted by ( nuff said ) on July 02, 2008 at 1:39 pm
We aren’t going to have to worry about the condition of the roads soon, no one can afford gas for anything but going to work now so the roads will be less traveled soon, in less need of repair. We will have to tear up the pavement anyway and have dirt roads so the horses and buggies can travel more easily on them. But we will have more land use for growing hay to feed the horses and for growing our own food since we can’t afford the prices in the stores. Tounge in cheek?.....maybe.
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