At WayneWho headquarters yesterday, we debated whether we would be writing any more commuter rail articles for a while, figuring that the county vote would be taken and rail wouldn't be a news issue again for a while. Apparently we have at least another week to talk about commuter rail. Today we talk not about whether the commuter rail project is good, bad, or indifferent, but the management of the funding process.Last fall and this spring, other communities sometimes objected to the funding mechanism. We recall certain cities in Orange County that threatened to withdraw support because they wanted the county to bear the funding cost, not the cities. Back then, people were saying, "well, it's a little late in the game, but we understand that it's a once-in-a-lifetime negotiation."
Fast forward to the present day. Oddly enough, we aren't hearing anything from the other counties involved about a funding squeeze. Votes are scheduled in all of the counties as to whether they will participate, and whether the project will go forward or die. (And thanks to some Osceola representative on the MetroPlan board, the project only moves forward if all of the counties agree to contribute.) But Osceola County rolls out the last-minute plan to add a five cent per gallon gas tax increase to fund commuter rail and some other transportation projects, and the hand-wringing begins.
Again, we aren't debating whether commuter rail is good or bad today. But interesting discussion questions come forward:
1. When our county leadership was in school, were they the type of students who always waited until the morning the report was due before they did the work?
2. Is the county manager using the gas tax as a negotiating tactic? It seems like one to two cents would take care of rail, but by asking for five, he's hoping for bonus funds and/or easy passage of the amount that is really needed?
3. Will the project go "off the rails" with three other counties still set to vote, now that they can say "well, Osceola is hesitating"?
Stay tuned.
6 comments:
All along these folks have been saying that we had the money for light rail, and that they would not need to increase taxes to do it. I alway thought that was strange when you hear these folks poor-mouthing and crying about needing more money. And then here we go. Week out of the decision and here comes the secret tax bill.
look at them run with that money. they almost got this one by everyone. i know i am not for paying any more taxes, and i don't care what it is for.
Get'em Taxes... and draw blood... make them locals pay...
I still think that a recall is the only way to fix all of this. These politicians say they won't raise your taxes - Ken Smith's Campaign Mailer: Hold the line on taxes - and then here we go with a tax increase. I will just add another hour to my workday so I can pay the taxes for someone else to ride the train to work. Thanks for looking out for me politicans! I will look out for you as I show you the door.
Didn't we just vote for an amendment to kill the Bullet Train?
Don't these people ever give up? If these windbags want to do something positive for ALL the people of Osceola County put this money into ROADS!!!
I agree with a previous comment--I am on the east side of the county and will never see any benefit directly from this. Why should I get hammered with a nickel a gallon gas tax so someone in Poinciana can ride the train. Take the bus...if you need more capacity...get more buses. This still creates a way for the people that can't find a decent paying job in Osceola County because "our schools have failed to provide them with the tools needed to succeed" make their way to Orange County where all the industry is located thanks to Metroplan (unless you count the Lowe's Warehouse, but there are other agencies that are still beating this horse to death!) Orange County gets the Industry and we get stuck with the tab for maintaining a bedroom community and now they want to stick us with the tab again. There is a huge difference between "railroad" and "railroaded."
Campaign mailers promising not to raise taxes... A gasoline tax increase... Sounds like mail fraud to me!
Post a Comment