[Vision2020] Otter Has Plan to Raise Millions for Roads

[Craine Kit]

I agree with the Governor that we need to raise money to fix the  
roads. However, I think it should be done by charging for potential  
damage. That would be a combination of charging licence fees based on  
the weight of the vehicle, a surcharge on the purchase of studded  
tires, and a small increase in the gas tax.

Kit Craine




On Feb 27, 2008, at 11:52 AM, Tom Hansen wrote:

> From today’s (February 26, 2008) Spokesman Review –
>
>
>
> “Proposal includes increasing vehicle registration fee to $150”
>
>
>
> Remember the sole-parent, hard-working Idaho waiter(ress) example I  
> presented earlier?  Remember how (s)he drops off his/her child at a  
> day care center (that does not require background investigations of  
> its employees), working as a waiter(ress) for $3.50 an hour (since  
> Idaho allows employers to include anticipated tips as part of their  
> employee’s income)?  Well . . . that same waiter(ress) must pay  
> $150 minimum each year to keep his/her car on the road so shat (s) 
> he can get to work.
>
>
>
> If Governor Otter truly does wish to stay in step with local  
> states, I suggest he increase minimum wage to $8.00 an hour and  
> start taxing services (i.e. attorneys), instead of dumping the  
> financial burden on those who so sorely cannot afford it.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Otter has plan to raise millions for roads
>
> Proposal includes increasing vehicle registration fee to $150
>
>
>
> John Miller
>
> Associated Press
>
> February 27, 2008
>
>
>
> BOISE – Gov. Butch Otter is touting fee increases he says will help  
> raise an additional $202 million annually by 2011 to maintain  
> Idaho's roads and bridges, including a plan for substantially  
> higher registration fees for cars.
>
>
>
> In addition to those hikes, proposals discussed at a meeting  
> Tuesday of the House and Senate transportation committees to  
> increase money for roads also include a 4 percent rental car tax  
> and increasing fees on commercial truckers.
>
>
>
> The Idaho Transportation Department estimates it will have an  
> annual $200 million highway funding shortfall in coming years. If  
> Idaho doesn't take action to bridge the gap, officials say the only  
> other alternative is to develop a strategic withdrawal from  
> maintaining some roads so the state has enough cash left over for  
> its most-important thoroughfares.
>
>
>
> "There are plenty of projects we could do, if we had the money to  
> do them," Darrell Manning, the chairman of the Idaho Transportation  
> Board, told lawmakers. "We have procrastinated too long."
>
>
>
> According to Otter's proposals, he's pushing a 4 percent tax on  
> rental cars that would raise about $1.3 million annually.
>
>
>
> Otter also wants to gradually boost fees on commercial truckers,  
> raising $25 million in the 12 months starting July 1 and increasing  
> the proceeds to $50 million by 2011. About $22 million would come  
> from light trucks, with the rest from larger tractor trailers.  
> Otter hasn't proposed specific legislation; instead he's working  
> with lawmakers and the trucking industry to come up with a package  
> that accomplishes his goals.
>
>
>
> "We wanted to find some middle ground," said Sen. Tim Corder, R- 
> Mountain Home and a trucking company owner who has been helping  
> draft proposals for his industry.
>
>
>
> By far the largest piece of Otter's package to increase roads  
> revenue calls for boosting registration fees for personal vehicles  
> to a flat rate of $150 annually, from between $24 and $48 now,  
> depending on a car's model year. After the changes, Idaho would  
> rank just 17th among states in registration costs, said Clete  
> Edmunson, Otter's transportation policy adviser.
>
>
>
> "Even by increasing revenue up to $150, it's still fair and it's  
> still equitable with the surrounding states," Edmunson said.
>
>
>
> Some lawmakers already indicated opposition to trying to raise the  
> lion's share of new revenue by increasing registration fees for cars.
>
>
>
> Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, said it made little sense that people  
> who drive their cars very little should pay the same as those who  
> use their cars every day for long distances.
>
>
>
> "My neighbor who is 90 years old drives very little," King said.  
> "So why not raise your gas tax? I think for seniors, it would be  
> fairer to charge per mile."
>
>
>
> Edmunson countered that Otter is philosophically opposed to raising  
> the state's 25-cent-a-gallon gas tax, which hasn't been increased  
> since 1996. Transportation Department officials also contend  
> revenue from Idaho's gas tax is stagnating and can't be counted on  
> in years to come, especially as cars improve their gas mileage.
>
>
>
> -----------------------
>
>
>
> Details of Otter's plan
>
>
>
> Registration fees: The current state registration fee – excluding  
> county charges – would be increased to $150, from $24 to $48 now,  
> depending on the car's model year. The plan would raise $134  
> million more in revenue by fiscal year 2011, according to the  
> governor's estimates.
>
>
>
> Rental cars: Rental cars would be taxed at 4 percent; the resulting  
> $1.3 million in proceeds would be deposited directly in the State  
> Highway Account.
>
>
>
> Truckers: Gov. Otter, lawmakers and the trucking industry are  
> working on a plan that would raise $25 million in fiscal year 2009  
> from commercial trucks, with revenue rising to $50 million by 2011.  
> About $22 million would come from fees on light trucks, with the  
> rest coming from larger tractor-trailers.
>
>
>
> ISP shift: Otter wants to shift $16.7 million in funding for the  
> Idaho State Police that now comes from transportation-related fees.  
> Instead, the money would be taken from the state general fund. That  
> would free up money for road work. The Joint Finance-Appropriations  
> budget writing committee has already expressed skepticism over the  
> shift, recommending against it.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
>
>
> Tom Hansen
>
> Moscow, Idaho
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>
>
>
> "If not us, who?
> If not now, when?"
>
> - Unknown
>
>
>
>
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