Our
view
Prop.
51 improves roads
Yet another measure on this year’s ballot
involves the redistribution of existing
revenues from General Fund to Trust Fund
for highway and school bus safety, transportation
and environmental programs.
Proposition 51 will allow 30 percent of
the General Fund revenues, which come from
the sales tax on the lease and sale of motor
vehicles, to be solely used for state and
local transportation-related purposes rather
than being available for programs funded
by the General Fund.
Supporters of the measure argue that the
proposition is necessary to improve California’s
roads, relieve traffic problems, provide
safer routes for children walking to and
from school, reduce oil and gas pollution,
prevent bridges from being damaged by earthquakes
and to improve public transit.
Not surprisingly, opponents to the measure,
mainly the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association,
California Taxpayers Association and the
National Tax Limitation Committee, once
again argue that although the measure’s
objectives are honorable, it will increase
ongoing budget deficits and thus is an unwise
proposition.
However, as argued by supporters of the
measure, it will not raise taxes because
it dedicates existing sales taxes to immediate
road and highway safety improvements along
with other projects.
The safety of California’s roadways is vital
to the state and should be prioritized as
such. Currently, many of California’s roadways
are in a less than satisfactory condition
and something must be done immediately to
improve their conditions. Proposition 51
proposes to do just that. On the contrary,
those who oppose the proposition offer no
suggestions concerning improvements to California’s
roads.
Among the supporters of Proposition 51 are
the California Organization of Police and
Sheriffs, School Transportation Coalition,
Partners for Highway Safety, California
Safe Kids Network and the American Lung
Association of California.
With the measure being backed by such organizations,
it is evident that it is not just a “pay
to play” scheme as the opposition calls
it.
Allocating 30 percent of existing revenues
from motor vehicle sales and leases from
General Fund to Trust Fund ensures that
issues such as the maintenance of California’s
roadways, replacement of school buses for
increased safety, relief of traffic congestion,
providing for cleaner water and air and
safer school routes for children are given
the priority they warrant.
A no vote on Proposition 51 would do nothing
to fix any of these problems currently being
faced by California.
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