Reduced Tax Revenue in California with only 30% of vehicles on road

Vanity | 6/24/2020 | Vendome

[Vendome]

So, I'm headed to the office and take a detour to get my car washed and drive right in - - no line and no one in front of me.

Unreal.

At 9am there should be a several cars in line but, nope.

It occurs to me that the little guys who use to wash my car or dry are probably out jobs for quite a while.

Why?

Well, with everyone being paid to work from home by their employers and other being paid to stay home by the American Taxpayer (who went to work today) It makes sense there would be less need to have your car washed because fewer people are actually "going to work".

Speaking of "Going to Work" driving what has become routine and that is ***There is no rush hour anymore or for the last 4 months***

I'm driving down a highway that at rush hour should be pretty packed but, I perform a manual VASCAR of the vehicles in front of me and determine they are 1/3 of a mile in front of me.

That is the closest car at rush hour(whatever that means anymore) is a long way off, which shouldn't be.

But, here we are.

So, next thought was: "With less cars on the road that means less gas consumed and less gas consumed must mean lower tax revenue, which in California is $.87 cents per gallon".

That can't be good.

If there are less miles being driven resulting in lower intake of revenue then the next question is: "How are they going to pay for the maintenance of roads?"

Which is funny because a good portion of the taxes on a gallon of gasoline simply goes to the general fund.

Finally, we have what? 5 or 6 bridges the San Francisco Bay Area?

Well, they charge $5, $6, $7 dollars or whatever to cross.

Normally there is a line to cross the bridge that spans from Emeryville to San Francisco and can then congestion on the bridge.

That's why smart people purchase the FasTrack beacon enabling you fly by everyone and pay for your toll electronically saving some time.

Well, now there are "Zero" lines to cross that bridge or any other for that matter and "Nada" congestion.

Those $5, $6, $7 toll revenues have been slashed, by my estimate, some 60% or more.

How will they pay for the maintenance of the bridges? Which is funny again because a good portion of those tolls also go to various general funds in each county and the state.

Now, if some counties charge a higher tax for sitting in a restaurant than they do for take out, how will they make for the lost revenue?

Tickets for parking? Who is getting a ticket these days? I parked in a tow away twice last week with the full knowledge "Ain't no one around so, no crime"

At some point when does the givernment lay off workers like has been done in the private sector?

Givernment workers seem to be fully employed and some are working from home while receiving full pay because their office is closed.

Like DMV : https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/05/26/california-dmv-to-open-46-more-field-offices-including-eight-more-across-bay-area/

With 71 offices expected to be open for business by Thursday, the remaining 99 DMV offices around the state will remain closed for now.

Oh, and behind the wheel driving tests are cancelled for now and until who knows when.

That is all

[Vendome]

Ah, well.

The times, they is a changin....

[P.O.E.]

I travel the highways about once a week to visit family.

For weeks, there was almost zero road traffic (mostly trucks & a few cars). Traffic has steadily picked up, but nothing even close to pre-pandemic levels, even during rush hours.

We’ll see once the stores & restaurants open, but most of the people I know are either:

1) out of work
2) telecommuting
3) local (tradesmen, etc.)

[Vendome]

I use to work in King of Prussia and hated the Blue Line but now, I’d be happy with rush hour and traffic jams.

This is not good for America....