Group opposes using Minn. gas taxes for recreation

A group that opposes the use of motorized recreational vehicles on public lands has asked Minnesota to stop spending millions of gas tax dollars on programs for snowmobiles, boats, dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles and fix deteriorating roads and bridges instead.

[Porkulus]

Billions in Highway Taxes Diverted to General Spending

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/14/1494.asp

Billions of dollars collected from motorists from gasoline taxes, tolls, and registration fees are being diverted by state and local governments into uses that have nothing to do with roads and highways.

According to the latest figures from the Federal Highway Administration, motorists gave state and local government $40.3 billion in 2005 for the ability to drive and own a vehicle. Gasoline taxes accounted for $20.5 billion in revenue while registration fees and miscellaneous taxes generated $13.5 billion. State and local toll roads also collected $6.4 billion from motorists.







$40.3B collected:

$11.5B wasted in administrative costs (29.2%)
$8.9B outright stolen for "unrelated' uses (22%)
$6.7B (16.8%) appropriated for supposed "[transportation] related use"
$13B for actual transportation costs (32%).
After all that, if we generously allow real and "related" use, 48.8% of the tax money actually goes toward transportation. 51.2% of tax revenue was wasted or stolen!

Does anyone still think that giving them another tax scheme will help?

[Drunkoncouch]

There must be some money in the "Land and Legacy" fund that could be used for this.