Go ahead and tax booze and cigarettes, but raising gas taxes at a time when prices already are skyrocketing has some people fuming.
“I say let’s have a recall and get a governor and legislator that can make better use of our tax money,” Anita Rutherford of Stanwood said Monday.
Shelly Kleine of Edmonds was on the opposite page. “I think the Legislature’s decision is an example of leadership that has been lacking in Olympia for a long time.”
Rutherford and Kleine are members of The Herald’s Readership Network. They were among dozens who responded by e-mail to a question about tax increases.
As it adjourned Sunday, the Legislature agreed to raise gas taxes 9.5 cents a gallon over four years. Cigarettes will be taxed 60 cents more per pack, and liquor $1.33 more per liter.
Mary Sutliff, 65, of Arlington doesn’t have a problem with the “sin” taxes because they aren’t necessities. She also said a higher gas tax was inevitable.
“The money for needed road repairs has to come from somewhere. Of course, no one wants to pay higher gas prices, but what’s the alternative?”
Nancy Campbell of Mill Creek said everyone feels the effects of a gas increase as companies raise the price of their goods. “At a time when we have no idea how high gas prices will be in the next few months, it is ludicrous to think that the citizens of Washington state would not object to a gas tax increase.”
Leslie Adkins, 42, of Mountlake Terrace said the gas tax hurts her as a single parent. “That said, we have major problems with our roadways and they must be fixed. If we don’t start now nothing will ever change and the costs of repairs will be higher later.”
Laura Bangerter, 24, of Lynnwood said the gas tax may encourage people to be less wasteful. “A gas tax is the fairest way to pay for the improvements because the more you drive, the more you will benefit. … It is a bummer that it costs so much, but maybe it will encourage people to be more economical.”
Marilyn Matthews of Marysville said she is appalled by the new gas tax. “This new tax will fuel inflation, hurt anyone on low or fixed income, hurt any business that depends on truck delivery and cost jobs – probably many jobs.”
She said she often drives by road construction sites and sees idle machinery and workers. She said the private sector works smarter. “I see little of that type of business sense in anything authorized by Olympia.”
Suzanne D. Fenimore of Snohomish said she recently went to Florida, and the highest gas prices in 19 states were here.
“Although I know we need road repairs, I have heard we are already paying one of the highest gas taxes in the nation,” she said.
Shelly Sanders, 34, of Lake Stevens said she agrees with a gas tax, but doesn’t want to pay for projects in King County.
“I usually time all of my appointments-errands around traffic so I don’t get stuck on the (U.S. 2) trestle, Highway 9 or any mess in I-5. It would be wonderful not to have to worry about bottlenecks on I-5 through Everett anymore.”
Tom Jones of Everett was singing a different tune.
“I think Washington needs a fair and balanced personal income tax,” he said. “We need to quit taxing Spokane and Moses Lake for the west side’s problem. The west has the highest concentration of millionaires in the state. Tax them on their income.”
Mike Carter, 56, of Everett agreed. “If the people would wake up in this state and realize we need a state income tax so the Legislature will quit nickel and diming the taxpayers.”
Ken Fricke of Granite Falls could have been a spokesman for Reader Network respondents.
“I’m ambivalent on the subject of raising taxes on cigarettes and liquor. Raising taxes on gasoline is a whole different situation,” he said. “It is unseemly to raise taxes on gasoline when the price of it is hovering around record-high levels.”
Assistant city editor Steve Powell: 425-339-3427 or powell@heraldnet.com.
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