The majority (77 percent) of people responding to an online Argus-Courier poll said they would not vote for a five-year, quarter-cent sales tax increase to pay for road maintenance. About 20 percent would vote for the tax and 2 percent were not sure.
Here are some of the comments:
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“I am tired of sneaky taxes going for other things like salaries and pensions. It’s time to get more creative and think of other means to get funds instead of taxpayers.”
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“I vote NO on any tax measure that does not spell out exactly how the money will be spent.”
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“Read the ballot wording. There is absolutely no guarantee that these funds will go into road repairs. The money goes into the general fund, therefore it can be used for just about anything - including roads, mind you. If the ballot wording was different I might consider voting for this measure.”
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“If it was a tax for just roads and only road yes, but a general tax no.”
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“Our taxes are already too high. Where does the gasoline sales tax, and vehicle registration money go? Since this is a ‘general tax’ I can see the politicians dipping into the funds to pay for the lavish pensions and benefits going to government workers.”
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“Make that a HELL NO! Where is the money that was originally slated for that purpose?”
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“What about all of the taxes I already pay that are supposed to go toward repairing the roads?”
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“If this was a dedicated tax for roads, I would absolutely vote for it, and encourage others to do so. I’m encouraged by the notion of full revenue audits made public, but that’s not enough to convince me to vote for an undedicated increase to the sales tax.”
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“It will go to benefits and pensions. Can’t trust the politicians. We approved new property taxes for artificial turf fields at Petaluma High School and Casa Grande High School, they have the money and are delaying the projects. Casa will not have until the end of the football season and Petaluma will not have their new field until the following season. Meanwhile I am paying more property taxes.”
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“We pay a tax on the gas we buy to pay for road repairs and instead they use it to pay other expenses. If we decrease the perks the government people get, they would have the money to fix our roads.”
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“Being a lifelong public employee, I know how our local government works. I could write a book on the waste I’ve seen over the years.”
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“Despite promises to the contrary, unless it’s VERY specifically worded for road repair and nothing else (no sneaky clauses) it will certainly all go to pensions. We all know that.”
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“Taxes have consequences. Too many taxes can drive people into poverty. Just say no to any new tax proposal.”
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“It’s just more of the same. If they are serious about road repair, make the tax specific for road repair. Since so many people want better roads there should be no trouble getting the majority needed for it to pass.”
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“It’s not the citizens of Petaluma’s fault that our city and county leaders can’t get the amount of state and local taxes collected. Representatives and supervisors need to fight for the tax dollars already paid and not look for additional taxation to make up for their lack of leadership.”
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“No! The sales tax revenues are rising. Earmark some of the increases in the sales tax for roads. Waiting until the last minute to place this on the ballot as a general tax is sneaky. I do not trust the money will be spent on roads let alone Petaluma Roads. We will see the money after everyone else like the Measure M money was spent.”
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“When will the politicians realize that the public is not stupid? How many times do we have to say ‘no?’ Put a measure on the ballot that will only go to repair our existing roads and we’ll vote ‘yes.’”
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“What about all of the taxes I already pay that are supposed to go toward repairing the roads?”
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