Dear Editor:
Are we paying attention? Interstate 70 has deteriorated, is congested and "they" are telling us that how to raise $2-$4 billion to replace that 60 year-old interstate is a critical question.
The suggestion to contract with a private company to reconstruct I-70 then recover its costs by collecting tolls is proffered, but MoDOT's director also estimates a one-cent sales tax hike will raise enough to meet MoDOT's statewide needs, including the cost of rebuilding I-70, or a half-cent sales tax hike over 10 years will cover I-70 alone.
Another option is some probably determined, but undisclosed to the taxpaying public at this time, increase in the now 17-cent-a-gallon fuel tax.
According to some, Jefferson City is in dire need of a rebuilding, or "transformation" if you will, so that the city can attract the desirable residents so visions of growth by way of tax dollars can be realized. And "they" are telling us that this critical city transformation vision can be funded with a tax hike, too. But only a half cent for 10 years.
(Wink, wink. Remember the other temporary taxes and tax hikes?) With two "transformations," Jefferson City and I-70, we taxpayers in Jefferson City are faced with a potentially 9.225 percent or 10.225 percent sales tax and/or some hike in fuel tax. In a report on CNSNews.com we find the amount of money the federal government takes out of the U.S. economy in taxes will increase by more than 30 percent between 2012 and 2014, according to the Budget and Economic Outlook published recently by the CBO and at the same time, according to CBO, the economy will remain sluggish, partly because of higher taxes.
At the same time, with Gov. Nixon's proposed slashing of almost $2.93 million from LU's budget and with LU slated to be a substantial beneficiary (US$7.9+ million) of transformation tax funds, how will LU be able to responsibly maintain such largess?
Another tax hike? Extend the "temporary" transformation tax after 10 years? What tax hikes are next on their agenda with whatever excuses and however nice sounding, pie-in-the-sky visions, or dire, threatening excuses are for their gotta have-a-tax hike? Are we paying attention?
Vote no on this "transformation" tax Feb. 7.
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