Ben Wear article Monday, 12/20
Ben Wear does a pretty good job of explaining why the current Texas Gas tax isn't working - in fact, it's shrinking because of inflation.
It was covered on the KVUE news on Sunday, as well. The State Gas Tax is fixed at 20 cents a gallon, but only about 2/3'd of that ever gets to the highway funds (the other part goes to partly fund education). The Federal tax is another 18 cents.
Education needs to be funded and fixed and the Texas courts have agreed. But, while the Governor insists he won't call for increasing the Gas Tax, he really has little choice, because more and more Texans are standing up to him and refusing to accept a flood of Toll road taxes.
Ben Wear does point out that currenlty the gas tax is state wide and it can't be adjusted and collected for local roads. That's true, but it's something that is easy to fix. That's what the Texas Legislature is supposed to do (other states do this without any problem - why not Texas ?)
It seems wierd to be demanding the state increase any taxes, but you have to admit, there is something very wrong with a fixed tax that doesn't even keep up with inflation.
In 1991, the Texas Gas Tax was 20 cents. With inflation, Ben points out that 20 cents only has 14 cents of value after you adjust for inflation. No wonder Texas can't keep up their own roads - the legislature can't keep ignoring the Gas Tax.
Do your part and remind them. Write them emails, send them letters, and copy the newspaper with your editoral comments. Toll roads abuse isn't the right answer.
Ben Wear does a pretty good job of explaining why the current Texas Gas tax isn't working - in fact, it's shrinking because of inflation.
It was covered on the KVUE news on Sunday, as well. The State Gas Tax is fixed at 20 cents a gallon, but only about 2/3'd of that ever gets to the highway funds (the other part goes to partly fund education). The Federal tax is another 18 cents.
Education needs to be funded and fixed and the Texas courts have agreed. But, while the Governor insists he won't call for increasing the Gas Tax, he really has little choice, because more and more Texans are standing up to him and refusing to accept a flood of Toll road taxes.
Ben Wear does point out that currenlty the gas tax is state wide and it can't be adjusted and collected for local roads. That's true, but it's something that is easy to fix. That's what the Texas Legislature is supposed to do (other states do this without any problem - why not Texas ?)
It seems wierd to be demanding the state increase any taxes, but you have to admit, there is something very wrong with a fixed tax that doesn't even keep up with inflation.
In 1991, the Texas Gas Tax was 20 cents. With inflation, Ben points out that 20 cents only has 14 cents of value after you adjust for inflation. No wonder Texas can't keep up their own roads - the legislature can't keep ignoring the Gas Tax.
Do your part and remind them. Write them emails, send them letters, and copy the newspaper with your editoral comments. Toll roads abuse isn't the right answer.
