MoDOT sales tax bad policy

The upcoming August ballot has more tax-increase measures yet again. One is Amendment 7, which proposes to increase our State sales tax by 3/4 cent to fund the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). I went to the open house at the Osage Centre and the monthly Cape County Tea Party meeting, where representatives of MoDOT were explaining and fielding questions about this increase. This is what I have come away with:1. MoDOT revenues from state fuel tax are expected to be $325 million; MoDOT estimates it will take $485 million to maintain existing infrastructure.

2. The proposed Amendment 7 will bring in $5.4 billion over 10 years. That is $500 million per year.

So why do we need $500 million a year when our shortfall is just $160 million a year? Why would we have any new projects on the roster, when we cannot maintain what we have now?

This sales/use tax increase is overkill, but MoDOT will definitely spend it. That's what government departments do. We will end up with more sidewalks on non-residential streets, curbs cut where no disabled person would go, more lonely bike paths and more infrastructure that we cannot afford to maintain. So after 10 years, we will need yet another increase.

I would like MoDOT and our legislators to go back to the drawing board and realize that if the fuel tax is dwindling, maybe the reason is people are strapped for cash. Do they really think an increase in sales tax is a good idea?

LINDA REUTZEL, Cape Girardeau