LETTERS

Reduce gas tax & fix RI roads, bridges

Posted

To the Editor:

Because of its location and size, Rhode Island should fund the repair of its bridges and roads by reducing its tax on gasoline and diesel fuel to 20 cents per gallon. Every RI driver, (private and business), would save 16 cents per gallon. Many vehicles that now pass through the state would stop and buy their fuel in her because Rhode Island would have the lowest fuel prices in New England.

Local truck stops and gas stations, located near Interstate highway ramps, would expand and improve their facilities to attract customers. Employment at RI’s fueling stations would increase. The cost of goods and services in Rhode Island would be reduced. The number of gallons of fuel sold in the state each year would more than double. Last year, 439 million gallons of fuel was sold in Rhode Island, which produced $140.6 million in fuel taxes. 878 million gallons at 20 cents per gallon would produce $176 million in fuel taxes each year, which is more than enough to repair Rhode Island’s roads and bridges.

Repairing RI’s bridges could begin immediately. There would no waiting for the gantries to be built and over $50 million would be saved in gantry construction costs.

Kenneth Berwick

Smithfield

Comments

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  • bendover

    Things a little slow in Smithfield Mr. Berwick? It's an election year so drag out the numbers...Please remember, It was former candidate for Governor, Tony Pires, who originally had the faze out the car tax plan...Only problem was they never figured out a $200M revenue stream to replace it..

    Then there was the assumption in a State budget article that gambling, lottery, etc. would grow at a 15% rate over 5 years...HUH? Look at the revenue numbers from the CT. casinos over the last 6 years...better? Now we have the pie in the sky proponents of this nonsense in Tiverton...All based on TV ads...SO, where did you get your revenue projections? What group or organization is saying we would double gas sales? Remains to be seen if the people are finally awake as to the dire condition the economy of this State is in.....

    As to the travesty of the non rollout of the "new" DHS computer system, Why aren't Roberts, and that idiot Director being fired? Where is chairman McNamara of the HEW committee? No hearings on the status of the system? These are the types of things going on that shake a thinking citizen right to their core...Nice plan Berwick, call me a doubting Thomas based on passed results.

    Tuesday, October 18, 2016 Report this

  • Ken B

    Fueling stations always post their price per gallon because most drivers buy their fuel where the price is lowest. I buy my fuel in Massachusetts because their price per gallon is usually 8 to 10 cents cheaper than Rhode Island’s fuel prices. Many drivers who stop may also take the time to buy a meal or even spend the night. Low fuel prices will improve the economy in RI and lower the unemployment rate.

    Tuesday, October 25, 2016 Report this

  • bendover

    Ken B: ????? HUH? OH, I heard about this archaic accounting methodology...I believe it is something that politicians use all the time, especially on referendum/bond questions...It's called the "Assumed revenue projection" entry. In short, throw out a number, the proletariat are too stupid to grasp when their leg is being pulled off...I am still a doubting Thomas...I have seen the citizens being lied to ad nauseam for 40+ years...They still have not learned that getting kicked in the backside repeatedly, eventually hurts.

    Thursday, November 3, 2016 Report this