Posted on 06/09/2005 5:48:31 AM PDT by Calpernia
Gov. Richard J. Codey is working on a plan to bolster the state's Transportation Trust Fund with a temporary increase in the gasoline tax and additional money generated by privatizing the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway, according to a published report.
The Record of Bergen County, citing an unnamed administration source, reported in Thursday's editions that the plan calls for a small gas tax increase to be pushed through shortly after the Nov. 8 election. The increase would be rescinded or phased out after the lease deal is signed and begins to generate cash.
The Transportation Trust Fund pays for highway building and mass transit construction work. It's expected to run out of money next year unless additional revenue is committed to it.
New Jersey's gasoline tax is now 14.5 cents per gallon, one of the lowest in the nation. It provides $605 million a year for the trust fund, but most of that money has to be used to pay down debt.
Transportation experts have recommended that the gas tax be increased by as much as 16 cents a gallon to keep the trust fund solvent. But legislators are skittish about any increase in an election year when every member of the state Assembly must go before the voters.
Toll road leasing has been tried elsewhere, notably in Chicago, where the 7.8-mile Chicago Skyway was leased recently to a private concern, generating a $1.83 billion upfront payment.
The administration source told The Record that the lease deal would involve only one of New Jersey's toll roads and could involve only parts of the highway.
``Lawyers are actively working on it,'' the source said.
But the lease proposal is certain to draw considerable opposition and is complicated by the fact that Codey will leave office after the November election. His successor, either Democrat Jon Corzine or Republican Doug Forrester, would have to carry through the deal. And if it were to falter, the ``temporary'' gasoline tax would likely have to stay in place.
``I just don't think we should be leasing the turnpike or the parkway,'' state Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, told the newspaper, noting that they are ``clean, safe and reliable'' and also very profitable.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
The short-timer wants to privatize the Turnpike. Sure, Gov, we'll get right on that for ya'!
What a maroon!
Yes. When the Sun has exhausted all its nuclear fuel and burns out, we PROMISE this tax will be repealed.
On the other hand, let's sell naming rights to the exits, and the whole damn thing !!!
Please use Lincoln Financial Exit 4 from the Comcast Parkway South.
I always find it fascinating that people talk about how gas is cheaper in New Jersey than in New York, but never seem to realize that the only difference in the price is the tax.
Gas does not cost less in New Jersey. Gas is taxed less in New Jersey. There's a difference...
Once both parties are essentially in agreement on most policies, it creates a void, which one or the other party will soon fill in their quest for power.
If the Republicans don't embrace these ideas, the other party will. Look for a lot more in the future.
If you were a Democratic strategist, (perish the thought) what issues would you think the Republicans are vulnerable on? Their issues (Democrats) have proved to be losers lately, and since they are interested in power, they will look for new issues in the areas abandoned by Republicans. And soon. The witch has already figured this out.
Is that a critique on the idea? Perhaps something substantive about the issue would be more helpful.
Like evevery other piece of legislation this year, this is to push all the dirty work onto Codey's reputation, and position Corzine to be the white knight by stopping the privatization after he's elected. And what stays, the new gas tax.
This cam eout now, after the primary, because Schundler lost.
Anyone remember Schundler's platform to remove the tolls from either the GSP or NJTurnpike?
Forrester's position on GSP tolls, he's still polling to find one.
He would have had them gone by 2003. McFruity ended up promising he would "look into removing GSP tolls", but quietly backpeddled about two years later.
He would have had them gone by 2003. McFruity ended up promising he would "look into removing GSP tolls", but quietly backpeddled about two years later.
Why offer a substantive opinion on something as trivial as this proposal? Codey is a caretaker, a short-timer, a place-filler. He is not going to re-shape the Turnpike Authority between now and the time the clock runs out on his tenure. It is ridiculous for him to even discuss it.
If you want to discuss the merits of privitization, I guess we could do that. But the merits are irrelevant here. Codey does not have the political power to make it happen, or even to push things in a particular direction.
NJ is between Governors right now. If Codey thinks otherwise, he's delusional.
He may be used as a scapegoat to get this through.
N.j. poli-scum are exactly like sex offenders, they can't cured short of six feet of earth.
The chances of enactment may be small, but the concept is not trivial. That's why.
It is ridiculous for him to even discuss it.
Most of the time, important ideas are not discussed by elected officials out of fear of offending some portion of the electorate. They are cowards. This idea may have been raised for the wrong reason, but it is never ridiculous to discuss ideas.
If you want to discuss the merits of privitization, I guess we could do that.
It is really the only thing worth discussing.
"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people." And no, that's not a comment about you.
Let's strive for greatness even if we don't achieve.
Not to mention that the primary motivation of 98% of land use decisions in New Jersey is graft. These folks cannot even replace a sidewalk without having to pay off everybody from the County Freeholders to the local cop. We are supposed to trust them to transfer an asset like the New Jersey Turnpike without forming a conga line of politicos who all have to be paid?
Maybe in an ideal world. But New Jersey is not an ideal world.
He's GOT to be kidding me. What kind of moron implements a gasoline tax hike NOW of all times? Incredible.
This state is such a cesspool.
What you describe isn't privatization, so I see your point. But it would be a better situation than the government in a real privatization situation.
This toll road push is going to spiral out of control. It's taken hold in Texas (yes, Texas), and I'm beginning to believe part of it is a push to get people into public transporation.
Perhaps something substantive about the issue would be more helpful. >>
Maybe some people don't have all day to spend on the FR.
Right, so nothing to contribute. So browse and read, not make empty posts.
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