State seeks higher gas tax

Texans may have to pay more at the gas pump if they want new state highways. Members of the Texas Senate's Transportation Committee said Tuesday that an increase in the 20-cents-per-gallon state fuel tax may be necessary to overcome a drastic shortage of money for new roads.

[Nacho]

Sorry folks but I agree. It is time to pay a higher tax. We use the roads and the state tax has remained the same for 18 years. In 1991 dollars .20 is .32 in today's dollars. So, it is only in real dollars a .08 raise today to .05 in 1991 dollars. It is negligible to what it really should be raised.

This is a better tax than the city/county/state/federal government putting toll & turnpike roads. Let us meet them part way. I say No to toll & turnpike roads. Those roads have ruined Florida and other states. Tolls are a cancer to the people when the government starts to implement their construction. In the history of tolls "None," have ever been removed.

[El Mexica]

The hell they are!!! I am calling Shapleigh tomorrow to refute that or he will not get my vote.

[El Mexica]

No toll roads nor higher taxes!!! Government needs to learn to make a budget and know how to spend their already high tax revenues. They send our tax dollars to other countries without knowing our sacrifice to earn it. And when they out sepnd their budget, raise taxes!!! The Hell with that.

Join the Tea Party!!!

We need to teach the government. You are in control, not them.

Stop the Abuse!!!

[bound to happen]

lets see hmm taxes how many illegal immigrants do you see using our tax money for their own good. lets tell the government get rid of anchor babies stop letting them use food stamps and medicare and all of OUR hard earned tax money for those people. get their kids out of school so our school are not suffering for budget. get them off our streets so decrease wear and tear. if they live here even with mexican plates the must register their cars there now that is more tax money so that other things won't be taxed.

[Nacho]

It is time to tighten the budget with leaner times for the people. It is time we get the military out of Iraq. We should have left after the election. It is time to take care of our own first. This includes other countries like Japan in Okinawa, South Korea's people, and some others from the WW II era. Now Afghanistan is a different story. The fight is not over.

Our government has to stop the jobs from going overseas. People worried about NAFTA but the jobs are going to Asia. These tax incentives for these companies don't go for reinvestment like they claim. The CEO's get richer and American workers lose their livelihood.

The money and jobs travel overseas. Meanwhile our companies send our dollars overseas and jobs at an alarming rate. This has always happened but never on the scale of the last 8 years. Manufacturing jobs are almost non-existent in our country. We are forgetting how to make things.

[Robert Haller]

NO NEW TAXES. Mr. Shapleigh all you been talking about since you became a senator is collecting more taxes. Either a state income tax or any of tax that you can come with. I'm sick and tired of this. You said you were stepping down as our state senator. Do it now, not later.

[RedNeck]

NO New Taxes. The Obamulus was supposed to fix that and 95% of us were not supposed to have higher taxes...Obamulus said so.

[The Wall]

Thank you Uncle Nobama.

[Paco]

what happened to the money they get for registering our vehicles? Does that money not go towards road upkeep and construction. I know we have it great my not paying state taxes, but come on? And your very right, we should not be paying for illegals' health care, food stamps and schools. I especially hate the schools, where they live across the border and come over, yet our own kids can't even go to kindergarten because they do not qualify as they have too much knowledge and speaking abilities for their age. Stop the insanity and get rid of the politicians who just want to make others in their party happy! F'em.

[Eastside Mike]

Saw the below comment in this article:

* "Carona said new rules should be put in place to prevent the reallocation of funds away from transportation projects."

You're DAMN RIGHT! If the gas tax is increased, those funds certainly SHOULD NOT be RE-ALLOCATED AWAY from transportation projects.

That should include re-allocated to bus, light rail, commuter rail projects, or even bike lanes.

The GAS TAX on vehicles SHOULD NOT be turned into a SIN TAX to fund others non-road transit dreams.

Of the state's current 20-cents gas tax take, 5-cents already goes to education.

[Rey]

It's really not a matter of whether we want more or higher taxes. It is a matter of that you can only squeeze so much money out of people before there is NONE.

That problem eventually leads to homes being sold at sheriffs sales to collect taxes. Picture an elderly person on a FIXED income and no where to go. Dont think it can happen? Visit the East Coast and ask those people. I am sure California is at this point now with a just announced income tax increase of 10 per cent!

[AK BLUE]

Nacho wrote:

Sorry folks but I agree. It is time to pay a higher tax. We use the roads and the state tax has remained the same for 18 years. In 1991 dollars .20 is .32 in today's dollars. So, it is only in real dollars a .08 raise today to .05 in 1991 dollars. It is negligible to what it really should be raised.

I agree with you 100% here. Mr. Saenz is correct in saying that within the next few years TxDOT will not be able to pay for any new projects. TxDOT will run itself bankrupt if nothing is done, and where will we be if nothing new is being constructed? Our growth rate and increasing inflation rate has put TxDOT in quite the predicament. Joe Pickett is one of the enemies of TxDOT, and if he has his way all TxDOT work will be subcontracted and all TxDOT engineers not in maintenance will lose their job.

Nacho wrote:

This is a better tax than the city/county/state/federal government putting toll & turnpike roads. Let us meet them part way. I say No to toll & turnpike roads. Those roads have ruined Florida and other states. Tolls are a cancer to the people when the government starts to implement their construction. In the history of tolls "None," have ever been removed.

I dissagree with you here. Tolls are not a bad "THING" here. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE THEM, THEN DON'T!! They are made to increase city revenue, pay for future city projects, and decrease ETA only if you are willing to pay. Its a benefit that you have at your disposal if you choose. I have no problem with Toll Roads, and if it means that I can save 30 minutes on my morning commute, then a mere $2 is worth it.

[F-BOMB]

Terrible Idea...... This is a perfect example of of mismanagement of funds, your registration and fines from traffic citations are what fund this section of Texas Government. I guess you guys were voted down from tapping into the Texas District and County Retirement system..

[Rey]

They need to do some serious planning and costs cutting and a review of all programs. We need a lot of things but just like in some homes, you BUDGET.

The people just dont have the money, Fed, State and local tax increase, cost of living. Everyone thinks just raise the price or taxes is the soultion.

I am worried about the people that just dont have it. My wife and I are fortunate but at this rate, I wiil some day just sign the checks over to a government entity and not waste my time making deposits.

[Nacho]

AK Blue:

The topic of toll roads is a hotly debated issue. We may disagree on parts or the whole of the issue.

I don't like toll roads but understand the necessity. Here is where I do differ than the regular person. Each city or area should be entitled to a full freeway/interstate first with many lanes and access roads. Here the border freeway has not fully built (minimum 3 lanes with access roads) to accommodate a full road. Only when this road has been built to its full capacity and traffic studies dictate a need for another road in the area. This is when the issue should be brought up to fund the construction of new roads.

In Florida and other states tolls have been delegated to citizen commissions with the good ole boy network in place. No new talk of roads except the TOLL Roads is ever seriously considered. If you want to avoid these roads there are alternative routes. These routes are back road and dangerous routes far from the path which is the most economical. These roads for average commuters easily add up to near $8.oo a day for a round trip route. Lets do the math $8 * 5 days =$40 a week out of your paycheck just do go to work. Over the year with a 48 weeks saying you have a month off for work.

48 weeks *$40.oo =$1920.oo a year

or a better scenario

48 weeks *($5 a day * 4 day workweek =$960.oo a year

These taxes without representation from a citizen's commission with the good ole boy network. These tolls add up to lots of money out of the regular citizen.
Let the "Voters" decide.

[Nacho]

Rey wrote:

They need to do some serious planning and costs cutting and a review of all programs. We need a lot of things but just like in some homes, you BUDGET.
The people just dont have the money, Fed, State and local tax increase, cost of living. Everyone thinks just raise the price or taxes is the soultion.
I am worried about the people that just dont have it. My wife and I are fortunate but at this rate, I wiil some day just sign the checks over to a government entity and not waste my time making deposits.

Rey:

Agree with spending but the inflation costs have not been figured into the equation which put us behind the times of getting less.

Times are tough and government should not take us for granted. This is where I agree with you on managing a budget.

We are luckier than most states with no state income tax.

Peace...

[Nacho]

AK BLUE wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree with you 100% here. Mr. Saenz is correct in saying that within the next few years TxDOT will not be able to pay for any new projects. TxDOT will run itself bankrupt if nothing is done, and where will we be if nothing new is being constructed? Our growth rate and increasing inflation rate has put TxDOT in quite the predicament. Joe Pickett is one of the enemies of TxDOT, and if he has his way all TxDOT work will be subcontracted and all TxDOT engineers not in maintenance will lose their job.
<quoted text>
I dissagree with you here. Tolls are not a bad "THING" here. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE THEM, THEN DON'T!! They are made to increase city revenue, pay for future city projects, and decrease ETA only if you are willing to pay. Its a benefit that you have at your disposal if you choose. I have no problem with Toll Roads, and if it means that I can save 30 minutes on my morning commute, then a mere $2 is worth it.

Most gas tanks are less than 20 gallons now. It would only be .20 * 20 =$4.oo for a tank load of gas better than a toll road or state income tax.$4.oo * 1 month =$16.oo is the better alternative.

[gabe]

pop up 7-11's will come out of the woodwork in santa t. and sunland park. i will be one going over state lines to fill up.

[elpasowatcher]

20 cents more a gallon when we don't know how high gas will go in the future is a lot. the state should look at toll roads and legislation that would allow it to receive and allocate funds from tolls for future highway projects. why should we texans foot the whole bill when much of our traffic comes from across the country and mexico? and the big rigs should be taxed as well ... they can really tear up a road. and with rumors the state may consider an income tax in the future ... well, that's all we'll need to ice the cake.

[Nacho]

gabe wrote:

pop up 7-11's will come out of the woodwork in santa t. and sunland park. i will be one going over state lines to fill up.

Border states will follow suit. They are having budget problems too. Is it worth driving a gallon and half worth of gas to save what it would cost. That will be the question. Try Mexico also...