newsobserver.com projects - Panel recommends 'odometer' tax - Comments

Re: Odometer tax to offset dropping per gallon tax revenues...

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:06:16 -0500

Per my colleague, Mark Johnson:

Part of the tax, 17.5 cents, is a flat per-gallon rate. An additional 12.35 cents rises or falls with the wholesale price of gas, adjusted every six months. Gas has now fallen below the price at which the adjustable portion of the tax was frozen two years ago, so the cap is irrelevant.

Hope that helps!

— RTB

Odometer tax to offset dropping per gallon tax revenues...

Penny_Wise — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:09:53 -0500

This was not clearly explained - what they are probably referencing is the fact that taxes on a gallon of gas at $1.69 a gallon are probably less than they were back during 2005, BECAUSE back then the rate was a variable rate and made up a larger percentage of the price of a gallon of gas ... just a guess.

Re: Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

dahedgehog — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:09:17 -0500

Are you ever going to fix the part in this post about "declining fuel prices"?

Re: Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

FFC1304 — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:44:07 -0500

On your many requests for charitable donations this time of year, and the future...

"Im sorry but due to the HIGH TAXATION agenda of NC democrats, and now the 10% Progress Energy rate increase, there will be NO MORE DONATIONS for your group. If you feel this is discriminatory, thank a NC democrat 'leader'!"

Lets demonstrate to the charities how HIGH STATE TAXES erode their donations. It ought to wake up a few folks who BEG for money!

Re: Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

CitizenOpinionated — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:06:07 -0500

One of the primary culprits described in Tangoz's rant, Kay Hagan, has been elected to the U.S. Senate. Hagan did chair the State's budget committee for five years. Lest we forget that when questioned about her position, Hagan stated, "I'll let you know when I get up there." I am eagerly awaiting to her Hagan regurgitate what Schumer tells her, since she indebted to him for $20 million. I also eagerly await to see how much backbone she exemplifies in the faces of Reid and men's club, given she voted lock step with Rand and Basnight 99% of the time. Should be fun...

Re: Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

tangoz — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:30:56 -0500

I brought this issue up during the election. The criminal waste of our tax dollars to include robbing of the Trust Fund. Let me say it for everyone to hear "Everyone who voted for a Democrat this year and previous elections is ultimately responsible for the people they elect".

The people on that panel obviously did not include anyone with common sense or smarts. It is called SPENDING LESS on NON-NEEDED Programs. Like the Easley's trips to Europe for example!

Re: Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

jayhurst — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:53:52 -0500

And what about out of State miles? Using my car on North Carolina roads is one thing (like toll roads), but why should North Carolina make me pay it for miles I DON'T put on NC roads?

Re: Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

dahedgehog — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:21:18 -0500

Also, doesn't replacing the fuel tax with a per-mile tax reduce the incentive to purchase a fuel-efficient car?

Re: Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

dahedgehog — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:20:02 -0500

"and, more recently, declining fuel prices."

Why would a decline in fuel prices lead to a decrease in fuel tax revenues? Isn't the state gas tax a set number of pennies per gallon? If so, revenues should be unaffected or go up with declining fuel prices, no?

Re: Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

FFC1304 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:01:18 -0500

funny how they wait til after the election...

will Lyndo Tippett BE FIRED?

Re: Panel reccommends 'odometer' tax

PoliticalJunkie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:17:23 -0500

Did the panel approve the recommendations unanimously or was there dissent?

Panel recommends 'odometer' tax

markjohnson — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:29:34 -0500

The 21st Century Transportation Committee approved a package of money raising proposals Wednesday afternoon that includes a tax on the number of miles a car travels each year.

The group also recommended putting toll booths on I-95 and I-77.

The special panel, made up of lawmakers and non-legislators alike, will hold a final vote on the recommendations on Dec. 10 before sending them on to the legislature. The vehicle miles tax would be collected during the car's annual inspection and would replace or supplement the currrent gas tax, which has produced less money than in the past because of fuel efficiency, a cap on the tax and, more recently, declining fuel prices.

The committee was charged with finding options for raising an additional $1 billion a year in transportation funding to address the state's growing population and transit needs. North Carolina maintains more miles of roads than any other state except Texas because the state does not require the counties to share in the maintenance and construction costs.

Legislators serving on the committee immediately dismissed the prospects of the proposals passing this year.

"Probably many of them won't be viable this session because of the economy," said Sen. Richard Stevens, a Raleigh Republican.

Charlotte Democrat Becky Carney agreed: "It's going to take a real learning curve for the general public and the General Assembly."

Carney also said if tolls are considered they should be possible on any interstate.