Democrats firmly believe that they can throw money at any problem and it will go away. The latest transportation tax is just another example. The program is funded by an array of taxes designed to keep the public thinking “it’s not that bad.”
In fact, the 15-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline generates less than half of the overall project costs over the next 16 years. The balance comes from a bunch of less obvious taxes. In addition, they intend to create a whole series of new taxes for the counties to assess. In the 12th year and beyond, all of those new taxes will continue forever. Oh, how they love the money!
Perhaps we should look for solutions, other than taxes, to address the problem. Perhaps we should start with terminating the WSDOT planners who haven’t performed very well in the past. We need some really good long-range planning and objectives.
Perhaps we should rebuild the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the 520 bridge and the Camano Island Bridge with tolls, a true user fee. Perhaps we should use tolls to construct other congestion relief projects.
Perhaps ferries, trains and buses should charge fares with a greater relationship to costs. Perhaps cities and counties should fund their own projects, which are primarily local in nature. Tolls would allow the state to borrow money to fix or build bridges and new toll roads immediately by pledging toll revenue to pay the bonds.
I know Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen wants a better and faster way to get off of Camano Island, but a four-lane bridge with a two-lane highway at either end is not what I want to pay for.
William Carlton
Stanwood
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