ANNAPOLIS -- Numerous local leaders in Maryland clamored Wednesday for an increase in the state's gas tax, sales tax or tolls to pay for the hundreds of millions of dollars needed to pay for transit and road improvements.
The state needs hundreds of millions annually to build the planned Purple and Red lines -- light-rail systems planned for Montgomery and Prince George's counties, and Baltimore, respectively -- peaking at $820 million needed for construction in fiscal 2017, according to data from state legislative analysts. Maryland currently has none of the $4.8 billion needed to build the two projects.
If Maryland hopes to secure federal funding for the light-rail lines through the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts program, state officials need to demonstrate how the state plans to pay its share -- likely more than 50 percent of each -- by the summer.
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12 comments:
Thats ALL we need.
Glad there's a gas station right next to the Liquor store on the DE side of Delmar.
9:35
You are right! I haven't paid alcohol tax to MD in almost a year!
Note that the repairs are ALL for the WESTERN shore.... Nothing for the Eastern shore. Maybe they won't levy the tax on the E.S. and maybe elephants can fly.. Again we get the proverbial shaft.
Where in the heck is all the casina money going?
In one of the highest taxed states in the USA, our "leaders", intent on "serving" us, spend every dime they can get through taxes, fines, fees, surcharges and levies. Spend it all. Everything. THEN, they look around and say "The roads and bridges need some fixing!". BUT, they have already spent all of OUR money on foreign trips, campaigns for FUTURE offices and making "connections" that will help THEM later. Parties. Kickbacks. Inflated and useless contracts for their friends who bribed them. New cars, state-of-the-art security and the latest in military tech for the armed side of our "leadership". OUR MONEY has been squandered. And "we, the people" entertain thoughts of MORE taxes??! Revolution, people. Why? Because this half-assed, dumber than rocks, slimy, cheating, rip-off, stealing, perfidious and fraudulent group of bloodsucking leeches who DARE to call themselves "representatives" are "serving" anyone but themselves. They will not stop until they are FORCED to stop.
If the elected officials would cut thier salaries, cut their travel expense in half, that would be a big help.
Light rail is a grand thing. But to burden every man, woman and child and BUSINESS in the state to provide a benefit essentially for two counties is just plain wrong!
We need to blow up the bridge and get everybody armed and secseeed from the state of Maryland and form our own state, whatever we do here never counts anyway in an election, the US Govt. don't give a damm about Chrisfield, or the rest of DelMarVa.
Every year they run out of money and need more. And they always justify it as paying for transportation. Remember the huge hike on the Bay Bridge, which was profitable at $2.50? That money paid for the Inter County Connector across the Bay, which nobody wants to use because the tolls are too high.
Here's my grand idea...why don't the increase metro fees to pay for it? And since metro stops tend to raise property values, dedicate a portion of the tax increase back to pay for the lines.
We get no benefit from mass transit around here. Until they offer Light Rail that crosses the shore to Ocean City, we shouldn't have to pay for it. But I do like the idea of leaving the 'bury on a high speed train and ending up in Annapolis or Canton or DC.
No increase in any tax until the blood suckers in Annapolis put back in the rightful accounts every penny they have stolen to spend on something else.
Maybe they could use the money from my flush tax, bay bridge tolls, or all the casino loot that the schools will never see. Put that up for a vote by the public. Nobody would support it.
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