WEEK SEVEN February 25,2015 GAS TAX / ROAD USE TAX FUND I want to thank each and every one of you who have contacted me regarding the fuel tax vote. For those who favor the increase to see safer and quality roads, I agree with you. For those who say we pay too many taxes, I agree also with you. So my job is to find the balance, to have safe roads while holding down costs. There were many proposals; all raised a tax in one way or the other, basically in three areas. 1) Raise the sales tax a penny 2) Bond for roads and place payment of bond on the property tax payer. 3) Raise the fuel tax a dime I’ll address each one. First, raising the sales tax a penny would raise twice the needed amount. The average hard working Iowan family of four would pay about an extra $300 per year in sales tax. I think that is too high. The second option of counties bonding for repairs and new roads places the cost upon the property taxpayer. In this option, everyone has benefits of good roads, while the burden of payment is on a select few. Also remember, that the bonds need to be paid back WITH interest, and we get nothing for the interest paid. The third option made the most sense to me. The road use tax funds are constitutionally protected and shall be used only for road use; building new, repairing, and maintaining roads and bridges. Everyone using these roads pay for them while driving, whether you live in Iowa or are traveling through our state. Others have asked why we didn’t take funds out of the general fund to pay for the roads. The general fund pays for education, health and human services, economic development, safety budgets as well as other state budgets. All would be negatively affected. Please feel free to contact me at
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