Thursday, August 09, 2007

All right, you win! We will “let” you vote on the new tax.

KVAL--

Eugene voters will actually get a chance to vote on the new gas tax and decide whether they should pay an extra three cents per gallon to fix the streets. However, at the same time, the city Council moved today (Wednesday) to make another two cents per gallon permanent.

Additionally, talks are underway between the city and some lane county commissioners to see if a countywide gas tax would be the ultimate solution.

Eugene officials say the three cents per gallon is not the whole answer, however is essential to fixing a backlog of street repairs into the millions of dollars.

4 comments:

JustaDog said...

I'd like to know their current income from existing gas taxes. Add to this the % of the general budget that is suppose to go to roads. I doubt very much if that combined total actually goes to road repairs.

Then there is the huge waste paying the local unionized labor instead of putting the work out to bid. I see so many "workers" getting paid very well for standing around directing traffic and holding slow/stop signs, etc. Huge waste.

MAX Redline said...

Actually, the folks holding the signs are generally not unionized, and the average pay is about $9.00 an hour. I looked into it, because it seemed like a pretty cushy job. It's not. So give 'em a break. And a brake.

There's a lot of waste (diversion of highway funds to fixed-rail, anyone?)- but the folks directing traffic through construction zones is definitely not in that category.

MAX Redline said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

We pay a lot of money to maintain infrastructure in this country so I'd like to know where all that goes before I agree to any more. More taxes is not a solution to the problem. I think we need new leadership!