Mar 7, 2008 11:28 am US/Eastern
Q&A: Corzine's Increased Tolls Proposal
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) ―
-
-
Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to increase highway tolls is going nowhere, but it's also not going away.
AP
Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to increase highway tolls is going nowhere, but it's also not going away.
With legislators starting to focus on a state budget plan that could bring major spending cuts, here's a look at where the toll plan and possible alternatives stand:
Q. What did Corzine propose?
A. Increasing tolls 50 percent in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. The increases would include inflation adjustments. After 2022, tolls would increase every four years until 2085 to reflect inflation. The money would pay at least half of $32 billion in debt and fund transportation.
Q. What roads would be affected?
A. The Atlantic City Expressway, Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike.
Q. Is Corzine's plan dead?
A. No state lawmakers have backed the plan. Polls indicate heavy public opposition. Businesses that rely on toll roads worry it would hit hard.
Q. Why won't Corzine drop it?
A. He wants to pay debt to solve budget woes and fund transportation improvements like a new Hudson River rail tunnel.
Q. Don't legislators agree with that?
A. Some say the state should cut spending for a few years to see how that controls debt. Some acknowledge debt woes but don't want to increase tolls to solve them.
Q. What about transportation funding?
A. Several legislators want to increase the state's 14.5 cent per gallon gasoline tax. Some predict it could be increased as much as 18 cents after summer hearings.
Q. Why a gas tax?
A. It would spread pain throughout, while toll increases would hit areas relying on toll roads.
Q. Does the governor support a gas tax increase?
A. He worries about rising gas prices and says it would hurt lower-income drivers, but could be convinced to support it.
Q. Why the rush?
A. The state transportation fund goes broke in 2011, and the federal government wants a plan in place by year's end if it's to help build the new tunnel.
Q. So what about toll increases?
A. Some back increasing tolls 45 percent, which is what the state transportation commissioner says is needed to widen toll roads and repair bridges on them.
Q. What about leasing the state lottery?
A. Some lawmakers suggest this, but Corzine doubts anyone can do better than the nearly $1 billion per year the lottery earns. Voters would have to amend the state Constitution to allow this.
Q. Has this worked elsewhere?
A. No state has leased its lottery. A Wall Street analysis found California would have to relax gambling laws and approve a major lottery expansion to command a high price. Critics say this would hurt poor people who avidly buy tickets.
Q. What about a new water tax?
A. Assemblyman John Wisniewski wants a new tax on water use to pay for open space preservation to ease some debt. Legislators previously rejected that to improve water systems, and Corzine doesn't want new taxes in a recession.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths, July-Dec.
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments