While this shouldn't be the only consideration, I'd feel terrible for any mom & pop filling station/convenience store along the New Hampshire, Connecticut, or Rhode Island borders. It will kill their businesses.
They gotta get their money somewhere - especially since they have been under court order to level out their school funding. That somewhere is, in part, higher taxes and fees on everything else including gas.
Most folks I knew at UMass Lowell who lived in NH fueled up in Lowell.
The Governor said he needs $0.04 /gallon to cover the debt burden the turnpike has accrued (remember it's raise tolls OR gas tax according to him) so if he's going for $0.19 per gallon for gas buyers everywhere in the state, what does the extra $0.15 a gallon buy us?
Does he plan to make it temporary to cover lost revenue from an economic slump (and from lower MA state income tax revenue) and if not, what NEW services will the state provide residents? I think we should press for some honest answers to the question.
Before the increase, we pay
18.4 cpg Federal
23.5 cpg State old 19.0 cpg State new
60.9 cpg total, which on $2.19/gallon is about 28% TAX.
The 27 cent idea makes more sense to me, especially if it eliminated tolls and funded future growth.
I think it makes sense to consolidate the agencies. The public will be more willing to pay more on their gas tax bill every week if they at least know the agencies are doing what they should be doing.
"Oh that Deval Patrick is such a nice guy. He said we were going to get a 27 cent gas tax hike, but he talked them all down to 19 cents! He's got my vote next election!"
I'd pay 27 cents a gallon if it meant getting the awful roads and bridges repaired properly and efficiently in addition to improving the disaster that is the MBTA.
I also wouldnt mind a floating tax that is close to 27 cents when times are good and gas is cheap and then drops to almost nothing when gas gets expensive. You bank money when the gas tax is high and then use it to help lower gas when its above 4 dollars.
The 27 cents increase was only a ploy. It was to make the lesser amount more acceptable to the people of our fair Commonwealth. What has the Governor proposed in the way of reform? I see that toll booths will remain within 128. What of additional toll booths at the state lines? We deserve this for voting him in and for voting to retain the income tax. This was a signal to the Democrats that run this state to tax away.
I really don't see any concrete change coming from this administration. What happened to flaggers, property tax relief and pension reform? "Meet the new boss..."
Comments
Flee to the border!
Good time to open a gas station on the NH border.
feel sorry for...
While this shouldn't be the only consideration, I'd feel terrible for any mom & pop filling station/convenience store along the New Hampshire, Connecticut, or Rhode Island borders. It will kill their businesses.
Massively Unsupported Assumptions
NH doesn't have sales or income tax.
They gotta get their money somewhere - especially since they have been under court order to level out their school funding. That somewhere is, in part, higher taxes and fees on everything else including gas.
Most folks I knew at UMass Lowell who lived in NH fueled up in Lowell.
60.9 cpg total
The Governor said he needs $0.04 /gallon to cover the debt burden the turnpike has accrued (remember it's raise tolls OR gas tax according to him) so if he's going for $0.19 per gallon for gas buyers everywhere in the state, what does the extra $0.15 a gallon buy us?
Does he plan to make it temporary to cover lost revenue from an economic slump (and from lower MA state income tax revenue) and if not, what NEW services will the state provide residents? I think we should press for some honest answers to the question.
Before the increase, we pay
18.4 cpg Federal
23.5 cpg State old
19.0 cpg State new
60.9 cpg total, which on $2.19/gallon is about 28% TAX.
The 27 cent idea makes more
The 27 cent idea makes more sense to me, especially if it eliminated tolls and funded future growth.
I think it makes sense to consolidate the agencies. The public will be more willing to pay more on their gas tax bill every week if they at least know the agencies are doing what they should be doing.
Probably...
"Oh that Deval Patrick is such a nice guy. He said we were going to get a 27 cent gas tax hike, but he talked them all down to 19 cents! He's got my vote next election!"
OK,
so apparently we ARE that stupid....
Now thats Change I can
Now thats Change I can believe in!
I'd pay 27 cents a gallon if
I'd pay 27 cents a gallon if it meant getting the awful roads and bridges repaired properly and efficiently in addition to improving the disaster that is the MBTA.
I'd pay even more if it
I'd pay even more if it meant my Escalade-driving neighbors would stop parking on the sidewalk.
Not that I think a gas tax would help, but I'd still be amused. I giggled about it every day that gas was about $4 a gallon.
call the city / town, since
call the city / town, since it's illegal
I also wouldnt mind a
I also wouldnt mind a floating tax that is close to 27 cents when times are good and gas is cheap and then drops to almost nothing when gas gets expensive. You bank money when the gas tax is high and then use it to help lower gas when its above 4 dollars.
Interesting Idea
But I'm sure the government would somehow manage to "misplace" that money when the rainy day arrives.
Gas Tax
The 27 cents increase was only a ploy. It was to make the lesser amount more acceptable to the people of our fair Commonwealth. What has the Governor proposed in the way of reform? I see that toll booths will remain within 128. What of additional toll booths at the state lines? We deserve this for voting him in and for voting to retain the income tax. This was a signal to the Democrats that run this state to tax away.
I really don't see any concrete change coming from this administration. What happened to flaggers, property tax relief and pension reform? "Meet the new boss..."