Transportation Taxes, Expenditures and Fairness

Today, EcoGeek made a mistake by supporting a per-mile driving tax.  I’ve previously pointed out how bad this idea is.

I thought I’d add an additional comment in response to the thought that a per-mile tax would be more fair.  For those driving guzzlers (who would benefit), why not consider the destructive cost of your guzzler and how fair it is to pay absolutely nothing for that privilege.

If that’s not convincing, consider the billions of dollars that go into road construction above and beyond gasoline taxes.  In 2004, according to the Federal Highway Administration

“taken together, all levels of government spent $147.5 billion for highways“

yet,

“the total amount generated from motor-fuel taxes, motor-vehicle fees, and tolls imposed by Federal, State, and local governments—were $105.8″

Note, the emphasis that the expenditures do not even include local roads.  Where does the rest of that money come from?  Well for highways alone,

“bond proceeds of $15.8 billion (10.9 percent) and general fund appropriations of $23.6 billion (16.2 percent). Other sources such as property taxes, other taxes and fees, lottery proceeds, and interest income totaled $23.0 billion (15.8 percent).”

Give me back my $50+ billion dollars, please, and fund some public transit.

For more information:

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/2006cpr/index.htm