Dear Editor:
According to reporter Bob Watson's article in the Aug. 10 News Tribune the following projects(?) will not be funded due to the citizens of Missouri voting down the latest tax increase scheme devised by our illustrious state legislators.
He said, "The transportation sales tax planned to pay for more than 800 projects throughout the state. In Jefferson City and Cole County, projects included: Expanding the Whitton Expressway by an additional lane in each direction from Clark Avenue to Missouri Boulevard - cost of $17.17 million. Expanding runways at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport - cost of $4.2 million. Expanding the city's transit system, JeffTran, by four hours each day - cost of $8 million. Creating a transit service line between Jefferson City and Columbia using OATS shuttle buses - cost of $1 million. Funding improvements to Jefferson City's Amtrak Train Station, from renovations to improving handicap accessibility - cost of $5 million."
Most of the advertisements I remember seeing were all about the need of this tax increase to help with our highways and bridges. These funds were going to be used for much more than just our highways and bridges, as can be seen from Bob Watson's article. This overreach by politicians reminds me of the overreach several years ago by our august City Council concerning the annexation of almost half of Cole County. When are these politicians going to learn that we citizens are up to their trying to pull the wool over our eyes?
I might have voted for a targeted gas tax increase if it was to used only for highways and bridges. It seems as though every politician wants to get their pet project included, which distorts the original purpose of the legislation. I remember when one of the first proposals for a convention center by John Q Hammonds was for a more than 100 million dollar hotel, convention center, and parking garage. The latest was for a Motel 6 and a Wendy's next door. What a joke!
And we citizens were going to be on the hook for this, another City Council boondoggle. Politicians think that these are worthwhile projects to spend other people's money on, while we citizens see it as another tax increase for dubious projects.
If these other projects are so important, then they each can stand on their own for the required funding. We pay enough in taxes now!
Movie title
Grade: grade here
Cast: cast here
Director: director here
Rating: rating here
Running time: minutes
Showtimes and Ticket Info