Yeah, it's going to 'transportation infrastructure' this time.
Posted on 04/08/2017 7:41:30 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The state Legislature narrowly approved a plan to increase gas taxes and vehicle fees late Thursday, a move expected to raise tens of billions of dollars over the next decade to repair the state’s worn and aging transportation infrastructure.
Senate Bill 1, also known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, raises the gas excise tax by 12 cents a gallon, with annual adjustments for inflation. Diesel excise taxes are going up 20 cents, while the diesel sales tax will rise from 1.75 to 5.75 percent.
Also, a new fee will be charged to vehicles based on their worth. And a $100-a-year fee is coming for zero-emission vehicles.
Combined, the new taxes and fees are projected to raise $52.4 billion over 10 years for road repairs and other transportation projects.
Under the bill, counties across California are set to receive an additional 104 percent in funding per year. For Los Angeles County, that means a total of $1.54 billion over 10 years. Individual cities are set to receive an additional 107 percent for street and road investments each year.
In Los Angeles, that means a total of $905 million over 10 years, whereas a suburban city like Pasadena can expect $32.5 million over 10 years.
Public transit agencies are also set to receive increased funding as a result of the bill. For instance, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is set to receive $438.7 million over the next decade, and Metro’s Southern California Regional Rail Authority will receive $80 million in that same time.
California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, said the bill will allow the state to close transportation funding shortfalls without burdening future generations with debt.
“These investments will create good-paying jobs, improve traffic safety and expand public transit access in communities across the state,” De Leon said in a statement.
Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, said the funds will help municipal organizations to make road safety improvements, fill potholes and repair local streets, freeways, bridges and overpasses.
“For decades, transportation in California has been getting worse and the funds to fix it having been drying up,” Holden said in a statement. “This compromise solution will save consumers in the long run and avoids borrowing funds that may result in cuts to schools, health, and public safety.”
Legislators haggled over the bill for the last week. The state Senate voted 27-11 t and the Assembly voted 54-26 to approve the bill Thursday. Both vote totals represent the minimum number of votes required to pass tax increases.
“Today, we made steps toward solving a crisis that affects every community in California,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, in a statement Thursday night. “Our roads and bridges are in bad shape. They waste our constituents’ time and money and put them in harm’s way.”
Assembly Democrats nearly did not have enough votes to approve the bill until a deal was struck with two Riverside Democrats, Sen. Richard Roth and Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, to secure their ‘yes’ votes in exchange for $427 million in a budget trailer bill for transportation projects in their districts.
Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, the only Senate Democrat to vote against the bill, and Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, was the lone Assembly Democrat who voted against it.
Gov. Jerry Brown — who threw his full political force behind the package — began by saying he was glad to be a Democrat.
“The Democratic Party is the party of doing things,” he said. “And tonight we did something to fix the roads in California.”
Brown also said SB 1 was critical for public safety and the economy and that it would create tens of thousands of jobs.
The bill had faced stiff resistance from Republicans who said more taxes aren’t needed, noting that Californians already pay more for fuel than residents of other states.
“It hurts the poor. It hurts the middle class. It hurts small business owners,” state Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula, wrote in an op-ed submitted to he Riverside Press-Enterprise. “It hurts those Californians, especially in Inland and rural areas, who often must drive long distances to get to their jobs.”
... because, not enough people are fleeing the place from all its high taxes.
The money will be wasted on SJW’s flavor of the week.
Funds will be “loaned” to bailout government retirement plans.
The proceeds will be wasted on endless “planning” and admin.
I see they missed the bike riders and people traveling on foot, what else did they miss.
Oh I know, where is audit for all the taxes that have been collected in years past to fund the roads maintenance, start by looking in demoncrats pockets or retirement packages.
[These investments will create good-paying jobs, improve traffic safety and expand public transit access in communities across the state,” De Leon said in a statement.]
LOL
8 cylinder trucks = $500 registration fees led to the recall 14 years ago. Could this lead to another turnover in 18’? Tom McLintock finished 2nd among Republicans with 12% of the vote when the voters went for the flash-Arnold. If we are hitting bottom this could be our real chance. 2020 GOP convention in Sacramento?
While I have no proof or data, I believe that road improvement taxes have already been collected, but Cal re-allocated those funds to social programs.
Me, I refuse to vote yea on targeted tax increases because money that was scheduled will then be allocated to something else based on new money increase.
There is a history of gas tax increases in California and funding supposed to go directly to highways and roads: Props 42, then 1A and 1B were supposed to that around 2006.
Of course those funds disappeared for colostomy bags for illegals or similar social programs.
Californians now get to pay yet another super-regressive tax b/c they won’t hold their own politicians to legal contracts (not just promises).
Suckers. I got out of there just in time (5 years ago). I was sad leaving the land of my birth but I could see it was going down the tubes.
How long is Brown going to stay out to lunch? He doesn’t remember the recall of Davis? CA can only hope the same happens to Brown but that’s a fat chance.
Look up California Propositions 42, 1A and 1B.
That is all the proof and data anyone needs.
“”Tom McLintock finished 2nd among Republicans with 12% of the vote when the voters went for the flash-Arnold.””
I recall having disagreements with FReepers over that choice - they were overwhelmingly FOR Arnold...
Maybe McClintock will throw his hat in the ring again and give up his seat in the House...Would be good for CA....
Combined, the new taxes and fees are projected to raise $52.4 billion over 10 years for road repairs and other transportation projects.
Taking $52 billion dollars out of the economy.
This is just another wealth distribution scheme like the train to no where. The taxes will be collected, there will be a few infrastructure repaired and a lot of consultants will get theirs (being sure to donate some to the Democrat Party)
At some point in the future they will discover the infrastructure has still not been fixed and another tax (or toll roads) will be proposed.
Democrats, getting rich one tax at at time.
“”I got out of there just in time (5 years ago). I was sad leaving the land of my birth but I could see it was going down the tubes.””
The land of my husband’s birth also and we got out 11 years ago this month. It truly was difficult to leave all the good friends, relatives and the great weather BUT - what choice did we have?
My assembly member tweeted it would be a 19.5 cent increase. Now I don’t know which to believe.
Yeah, it's going to 'transportation infrastructure' this time.
Hey. Its not like its your money.
When I grew up there the place was well-run and akin to a paradise on Earth.
Our yearly vehicle registration/license fees go into the general fund instead of a road maintenance fund.
Are so the called electric vehicles basically in for free re the yearly registration and license fees?
Not one red cent will be used for Roads, All of it will be diverted to the Brown Doggle and Public Pensions. I will bet $100 on it.
So glad I don’t live in CA. Feel sorry for those FReepers who do.
Although to be honest, I did think about moving there back in the late 70s, early 80s.
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