LETTERS

Roads, bridges should be maintained using gas tax

Posted 10/7/14

To the Editor:

Recently the citizens of Aquidneck Island asked the state legislation body to return $60,000 of tolls that were collected. The toll of 10 cents was installed while the debate of a …

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LETTERS

Roads, bridges should be maintained using gas tax

Posted

To the Editor:

Recently the citizens of Aquidneck Island asked the state legislation body to return $60,000 of tolls that were collected. The toll of 10 cents was installed while the debate of a toll was in question. Common sense prevailed and the toll change was negated.

The citizens of Newport should do the same. The Pell Bridge has been paid off for years. Maintenance funds should come from the gasoline tax, the highest in the country. On TV, Mr. Michael Lewis, the head of the transportation department, stated that none of the funds from the gasoline tax were being used to repair roads and bridges and I believe that this is wrong. The gasoline tax is going straight into the general fund to be used at the discretion of the legislature. I believe that most people believe that the gasoline tax was being used for repairs of roads and bridges.

The city of Newport and surrounding cities and towns that are forced to use the Pell Bridge are being forced to pay double: 1. They have to pay tolls to come and go on a daily basis, 2. They are taxed again when they buy gas.

My recommendation is that all roads and bridges be maintained by the gasoline tax. If you want to build tourism, what better way to advertise? “Come to R.I. No tolls on roads and bridges”

The study on condition of roads and bridges needs work. That causes citizens additional money to repair their vehicles.

None of the present candidates for governor are even addressing this major concern.

Elmer H. Gardiner

Warwick

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  • JohnStark

    The funny thing about taxes in RI is that, once enacted, no one pays much attention except pols who incessantly seek to raise them. Take the state sales tax. It began as a "temporary" 1% tax in 1947. Eventually, it was raised to 5%, then another "temporary" hike to 6% in the early 70's, then another "temporary" hike to 7% in the early 90's. As Reagan said, nothing is as permanent as a temporary tax. The state income tax was also a "temporary" measure when it was introduced in February 1971. By July of that year: Permanent. The problem is that Rhode Islanders are too willing to pay these taxes because they don't see them. They are taken through payroll deductions and built into the final price of a purchase. If taxpayers had to write a check for their tax levy say, quarterly, there would be an uproar. Mr. Gardiner is correct. More people need to pay attention. Then again, if more people paid attention, RI would have neither a sales nor income tax to begin with. And the state would be infinitely better off.

    Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Report this