- Naked Conch - Posted by Matt Gardi - Feb 23, 2012
Here we go again folks, the move is afoot to raise the gas tax that Monroe County residents pay on each gallon of gasoline they use. That’s right, in a recent article in the Key West Citizen, Commissioner Kim Wigington broached the subject, suggesting that the issue will come before the Board of County Commissioners in the form of a “more formal” proposal soon. Awesome, maybe it will be a black tie affair, where Commissioners can hob knob with administrators and discuss more formal ways to nickel and dime us with regressive taxes and fees as an alternative to controlling spending.
Fortunately, Commissioner George Nuegent was cognizant of the fact that this isn’t the best or brightest idea for revenue raising, and seemed opposed to the idea. For this, George gets a gold star. To begin with, the County already collects $.13 on every gallon of gasoline sold in Monroe County, and when you add in State and Federal taxes it crests $.50/gallon in the the State of Florida. So when you see that number on the sign at the gas station that makes you roll your eyes and scream expletives at foreign nations that hold us hostage with the price of oil, make sure you keep a little reserve tank of frustration for those local bureaucrats that want to tell us how innovative they are by adding to that already painfully high price of gas.
Gas taxes are the most regressive taxes that exist. This is a tax that the poorest of the poor cannot avoid, especially here in the Keys. As much as George Nuegent should be admired for his efforts to tune up his bike, tell the single mom with two kids that has to drive to a teacher conference, then downtown to work from Big Coppitt that she just spent an hours wages on gas taxes, and I’m sure she’ll give a nice thanks to Wigington for suggesting this creative new initiative.
Let’s also put this idea of, “It’s awesome ‘cause the tourists are paying for it,” idea to bed. You know the same argument that was trotted out when the discussion of a US 1 toll was being discussed. First, tourists love to know we here in Monroe County like to stick it to ‘em with gas, bed, and sales taxes, it gives them that nice warm feeling like they want to come back. Secondly, people travel with a budget, and their wallets only have so much cash in them. Every penny that you take from a tourist as a tax, is one less penny that is going to go to a Keys business. You remember businesses, right? Businesses are those little things that produce things, employ locals, and stir the local economy. Certainly we should prefer to tax those tourists so local government can find some creative ways to spend that revenue, versus the foolish notion that local businesses are more important. I mean heck, hopefully soon government can take all our money and be the only business of choice, like...like...Cuba. That would be cool.
No, a gas tax isn’t a solution. Nor are any of the simple minded, shallow tax and fee alternatives that hit the poorest segment of our community the hardest. A solution is to reduce spending elsewhere. A solution is to create a strong and vibrant local economy so that those taxes that already exist and are levied provide a greater amount of revenue.
Keep your ears open this campaign season, and tune in to whether or not a candidate speaks about efficiency, or if they speak of cute new ways to raise revenue. Therein lies the truth. The truth of what motivates a politician, and what defines their persona. Then cast your vote accordingly.
Here we go again folks, the move is afoot to raise the gas tax that Monroe County residents pay on each gallon of gasoline they use. That’s right, in a recent article in the Key West Citizen, Commissioner Kim Wigington broached the subject, suggesting that the issue will come before the Board of County Commissioners in the form of a “more formal” proposal soon. Awesome, maybe it will be a black tie affair, where Commissioners can hob knob with administrators and discuss more formal ways to nickel and dime us with regressive taxes and fees as an alternative to controlling spending.
Why is it that politicians can only find creative ways to tax us, versus finding creative ways to cut spending, or create efficiencies that save money? Why? I’ll tell you why. Because raising a tax or a fee is easier when you have a captive customer that has no way to escape the tax. It’s just that simple. So the challenge is to create a tax or fee that is the least noticed, so that it doesn’t effect one’s popularity come the next election cycle. Then politicians expect thanks by giving the people back some of their own money in the form of some government service.
Fortunately, Commissioner George Nuegent was cognizant of the fact that this isn’t the best or brightest idea for revenue raising, and seemed opposed to the idea. For this, George gets a gold star. To begin with, the County already collects $.13 on every gallon of gasoline sold in Monroe County, and when you add in State and Federal taxes it crests $.50/gallon in the the State of Florida. So when you see that number on the sign at the gas station that makes you roll your eyes and scream expletives at foreign nations that hold us hostage with the price of oil, make sure you keep a little reserve tank of frustration for those local bureaucrats that want to tell us how innovative they are by adding to that already painfully high price of gas.
Gas taxes are the most regressive taxes that exist. This is a tax that the poorest of the poor cannot avoid, especially here in the Keys. As much as George Nuegent should be admired for his efforts to tune up his bike, tell the single mom with two kids that has to drive to a teacher conference, then downtown to work from Big Coppitt that she just spent an hours wages on gas taxes, and I’m sure she’ll give a nice thanks to Wigington for suggesting this creative new initiative.
Let’s also put this idea of, “It’s awesome ‘cause the tourists are paying for it,” idea to bed. You know the same argument that was trotted out when the discussion of a US 1 toll was being discussed. First, tourists love to know we here in Monroe County like to stick it to ‘em with gas, bed, and sales taxes, it gives them that nice warm feeling like they want to come back. Secondly, people travel with a budget, and their wallets only have so much cash in them. Every penny that you take from a tourist as a tax, is one less penny that is going to go to a Keys business. You remember businesses, right? Businesses are those little things that produce things, employ locals, and stir the local economy. Certainly we should prefer to tax those tourists so local government can find some creative ways to spend that revenue, versus the foolish notion that local businesses are more important. I mean heck, hopefully soon government can take all our money and be the only business of choice, like...like...Cuba. That would be cool.
No, a gas tax isn’t a solution. Nor are any of the simple minded, shallow tax and fee alternatives that hit the poorest segment of our community the hardest. A solution is to reduce spending elsewhere. A solution is to create a strong and vibrant local economy so that those taxes that already exist and are levied provide a greater amount of revenue.
Keep your ears open this campaign season, and tune in to whether or not a candidate speaks about efficiency, or if they speak of cute new ways to raise revenue. Therein lies the truth. The truth of what motivates a politician, and what defines their persona. Then cast your vote accordingly.
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