What Georgia Can Learn From NC (house, move, business)

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I would personally be okay with a significant increase in the gas tax and with additional tolls. Stick the true cost of transportation on the user.

However, it is critical that any additional tax revenues be spent carefully.

I am really not a fan of regressive taxes (or equivalent methods of revenue). This especially stands true when Georgia has one of the lowest rate progressive tax structures in the nation.

[cwkimbro]

Originally Posted by jero23

When in reality that is far from the truth...
Georgia is amongst the most federally subsidized states in the nation.

That is pretty far from the truth.

Georgia is actually much closer to being a break-even state, largely thanks to the economic activity and wealth in the Atlanta region.

There are a few year-to-year variations where we are a small time donor or taker state, but for the most part we right in the middle.

The rest of the South does not fair so well, but we are joined with North Carolina and Texas.

States like Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina are different stories.


The real problem I have with Arjay's opinion is we have been under-investing on infrastructure in particular in relation to GDP for a few decades at the state level.

At the macro-level I heavily agree with architect.

Yes, this is just one spending program and yes it is only $4b. The problem is Georgia spends far less per capita on transportation than North Carolina.

We essentially are a region of 5.5 million living on infrastructure for 3 million that has had some moderate tweaks.

[Fubarbundy]

Love me some moderate tweaks!

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

That is pretty far from the truth.

Georgia is actually much closer to being a break-even state, largely thanks to the economic activity and wealth in the Atlanta region.

There are a few year-to-year variations where we are a small time donor or taker state, but for the most part we right in the middle.

The rest of the South does not fair so well, but we are joined with North Carolina and Texas.

States like Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina are different stories.


The real problem I have with Arjay's opinion is we have been under-investing on infrastructure in particular in relation to GDP for a few decades at the state level.

At the macro-level I heavily agree with architect.

Yes, this is just one spending program and yes it is only $4b. The problem is Georgia spends far less per capita on transportation than North Carolina.

We essentially are a region of 5.5 million living on infrastructure for 3 million that has had some moderate tweaks.

Very true.

On the highway fund in particular, Texas is a huge donor state. Yet they manage to build roads in spite of that. Their senators have been working on balancing the donors and takers (like NY state) for a long time. North Carolina and Texas have both been doing a lot with their infrastructure while Georgia has mostly sat on its hands for the last 20 years.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

The real problem I have with Arjay's opinion is we have been under-investing on infrastructure in particular in relation to GDP for a few decades at the state level.

I'm in favor of investing more in infrastructure but I'd prefer to see the money come from increased gas taxes, tolls and other user related fees.

Until people start paying the true cost of transportation there will be continued bickering about what projects should have priority and who should pay what.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I'm in favor of investing more in infrastructure but I'd prefer to see the money come from increased gas taxes, tolls and other user related fees.

Until people start paying the true cost of transportation there will be continued bickering about what projects should have priority and who should pay what.

Vehicle Mileage Fees are the best solution. That way people pay exactly the amount they should for driving on streets and the price is reflected in the vehicles weight.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Vehicle Mileage Fees are the best solution. That way people pay exactly the amount they should for driving on streets and the price is reflected in the vehicles weight.

Sounds okay to me. Does it need any special technology or do you just go by the odometer?

[bu2]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Sounds okay to me. Does it need any special technology or do you just go by the odometer?

I don't like the government intruding. They want to do it with monitoring equipment.

Gas taxes are better. You just have to adjust occassionally as the average fuel efficiency goes up.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

I don't like the government intruding. They want to do it with monitoring equipment.

Gas taxes are better. You just have to adjust occassionally as the average fuel efficiency goes up.

Oregon is testing a way that does not require GPS tracking of every move http://www.myorego.org/about/vendor-options/. If you have nothing to hide, what does it matter? If the G Men wanted to track you they could by your phone and towers.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Sounds okay to me. Does it need any special technology or do you just go by the odometer?

MyOReGO | A new way to fund roads for all Oregonians