These may become popular.
--Boris
Posted on 06/04/2003 11:18:51 AM PDT by freepatriot32
GOSHEN -- Residents may not be happy about the next tax coming their way, but elected officials don't want them to dodge potholes or wrecked cars on their way to complain.
By a 2-1 vote, the Elkhart County commissioners recommended installing a wheel tax to pay for road maintenance. Members of the county council seem poised to agree, and they'll take their vote June 14. The money will make up for funds state government started taking away when the excise tax was cut a decade ago.
"If the state chooses to increase the gas tax and let us have the money, fine. We'll get rid of the wheel tax in a heartbeat," said John Letherman, president of the council."In the meantime, I don't want to see the folks around here have to put up with bad roads or cars in disrepair because we didn't do anything. I'm sure the public will be far more angry with us if the roads fall apart than if they have to pay 20 bucks next year."
Letherman said he would need to hear from leaders of each community before even considering the tax. So far, only commissioners Phil Stiver and Phil Neff have taken that step publicly.
"I've discussed this issue with many people. I don't think anyone on the record will dispute the fact we need to do this," Letherman said. "I understand their degree of enthusiasm may be tempered a bit with political realities. Still, nobody has disagreed."
Actually, commissioner Martin McCloskey has. He opposed the recommendation, saying it wasn't the commissioners' responsibility to get involved. He added at a time when President Bush continues to push an agenda of tax cuts, "we just tax, tax, tax -- and the people are going dry from shelling out more money."
While McCloskey said county government needs to be more thrifty across the board, Neff pointed out a difference. Money spent for reassessment, bridge projects and other programs cannot be redirected to pave and build county roads.
State lawmakers refused to discuss an increase to the 18-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax, which has been raised just twice -- by a total of 4 cents -- since 1988. Tom Byers, the county's public services director, said those increases have brought only $455,000 back to the county for maintenance, not enough to keep up with inflation and a road network that has grown by 60 miles in that time.
"The one thing the motoring public doesn't want to hear is, we'll get to that when we have the money," Byers said. "You can do nothing and ride it out. That's an option. Regardless of your decision, I want to make one thing clear. We're still going to maintain the roads and plow snow. After that, we'll have to review the program and ask ourselves, is what we're doing acceptable? That is the question we'll need answered."
County officials don't want to pull the plug on an aggressive, $80 million construction and repair plan for the next 10 years. Included in the program is continuation of C.R. 17 as a major north-south highway, a new Six Span bridge, a wider C.R. 6 to the St. Joseph County line and traffic improvements around Goshen.
"The state has really put us behind the 8-ball," said councilman Dennis Sharkey, who attended the commissioners' meeting. "I'm like Neff -- you know, enough's enough. We don't need any more taxes. But the vast majority of people I've talked to think this is an equitable way to address the problem."
C.J. Yoder, who started his council term just five months ago, said he's been impressed with the sales pitch for better road maintenance. Still, he hasn't made up his mind on the wheel tax.
"I thought the issue would get more reaction," Yoder said. "I went to a neighborhood coffee this morning, and even after I brought it up, nobody said one word about it or even asked for my opinion. That was surprising."
Only a few people spoke, all against the tax, before the commissioners voted. Jack Donis, a former county councilman, argued no tax has ever been taken off the books after it was approved. Rick Bowen, a Libertarian candidate for Elkhart City Council, said, "The people who elected you were the people who don't want a wheel tax."
Already this year, the county instituted one tax increase, applied to adjusted gross income, to pay for criminal justice building projects. The council will meet at 8 a.m. June 14 in Room 104 of the Elkhart County Administration Building,.
Contact Trevor Wendzonka at trevorw@etruth.com.
ok for every freeper that saw this and believed it i have a bridge in new york im auctioning off to help pay this tax.Bidding starts at 1 million dollars please start the bidding now
Since I'm new here, I can only guess what that means. If it means what I think it does, I'm with you!
These may become popular.
--Boris
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