Posted on 02/04/2005 10:17:30 PM PST by AVNevis
One of the many controversies involving the Bay Bridge retro-fit fiasco is how to pay for it. Bay area representatives say the Bay Bridge is part of the state highway system and state taxpayers should pay.
The Bay Bridge is, indeed, part of the state highway system. So why have local Bay-area governments been allowed all these years to assess tolls on the bridge to line their own pockets?
The Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge were financed with revenue bonds financed by the tolls paid by users of those bridges. As originally envisioned, (and sold to the public) the tolls were supposed to be removed as soon as the bonds had been paid. The bonds were redeemed in the early 1950's - but somehow the tolls were never removed. Indeed, they have kept growing, and a major component of the current tolls is a subsidy to Bay-area local governments.
Traditionally, all capital-intensive transportation projects such as major bridges and tunnels were financed by tolls paid by the users of those projects in proportion to their use. What is so unfair about a user of a bridge paying for the cost of that bridge? If Bay area politicians want state taxpayers to pick up the $5 billion (and growing) tab, the first thing that they need to do is repay the state's taxpayers for the local tolls they've collected on these state highway projects all these years.
Thanks for posting. Good for Tom. I've heard that San Francisco get close to 80 cents on the dollar of state taxes. Orange County only gets something like 12 cents on the dollar.
I believe that Tom McClintock will be the next Lt. Governor next year. I'm also vying to see Mr. McClintock as the next Governor of California in the 2010 Governor's election.
Oh Goodie! The Fearless Future Governor is going to get after those evil municipalities who are evilly "lining their own pockets". Our Future Hero! He's gonna save our Future lives!
< s > Gee CBart, don't hold back on your enthusiasm.< /s >
Yeah, I don't even like Arnold's social liberal values. His pro-abortion, anti-gun, and pro-gay stance is just sicking in my opinion. But I would have to say that Arnold needs to get his act together and stop wooing Democrats with his social liberal values. He should start focusing on prevent illegal aliens from coming in to California and reform our already bankrupt state.
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