Here's your hard earned "money" being siphoned

[AngelinaCatHub]

Some years ago, I had occasion to go to the Florida D.O.T. to ask them why are they resurfacing our main road that is two lane. They put in new culverts and concrete bibs and wonderful new surface. The fact is, I was in the planning office of the D.O.T. that was to four lane that same road within the year. I stupidly asked, WHY? Why are you putting new surface on a good road and the other road across town is full of potholes with no future plans, and needs to be resurfaced, when all this work being done on this road will be torn out for four lanes. They told me “Oh sir, that road is a mess and trust us it needs attention right now”. I asked how about route xx that you know needs work? He said, that’s not on our schedule.

Within the year, here come the same tractors that put the culverts in, pulling them up to widen the road. Our tax dollars at work. ‘Hub

[AngelinaCatHub]

Oooops duplicate

[bmrigs]

Are you saying the government is mismanaging trillions of dollars ? Shouldn't our government look into this serious issue and take swift action ? Oh wait they're the same people. How'd that happen.

LOL democracy at work. Mismanagment, waste, insufficiency. John Adams has said that democracies never last long, they soon exhaust and kills itself.

[ssdsco]

I know. Let's spend billions getting to Mars. Maybe there's life form there and they can float us loans for trillions and we can print more money. Who knows maybe they have oil too. Problem solved.

The NY governor just announced a $5 billion deficit and he's calling a meeting to discuss budget cuts. I gotta get there. I don't want any of my programs cut.

[WhatMoney]

Where's my rebate check ? Gas has doubled from $2 to $4 a gallon and gas tax revenues collected doubled with no increase in expense so where's my rebate check and reduction in gas tax to the level collected at $2 a gallon ? They must be having trouble figuring out how to print a check again.

You realize, I am sure, that the gov gets about 40 cents on the dollar in tax on fuel. So, $2 a gal, 80 cents $4 a gal $1.60 and they did nothing to earn it.

Only problem is that gasoline taxes are calculated per gallon, not as a percentage of the price. So even though prices have doubled, the taxes collected are the same - and since gasoline consumption has decreased with higher prices, the tax revenue to the government is now less than last year.

As of July 1, 2008, the average amount of tax imposed on a gallon of gasoline sold in the United States was 49.4 cents per gallon, up 2.4 cents from the January 2008 report. For diesel fuel, the national average amount of tax was 56.4 cents per gallon, up 2.8 cents from the January 2008 report. On average about 11% of gasoline prices are from taxes as of April 2008.
http://www.api.org/statistics/fueltaxes/

Funds for Highways Plummet As Drivers Cut Gasoline Use

An unprecedented cutback in driving is slashing the funds available to rebuild the nation's aging highway system and expand mass-transit options, underscoring the economic impact of high gasoline prices. The resulting financial strain is touching off a political battle over government priorities in a new era of expensive oil.

A report to be released Monday by the Transportation Department shows that over the past seven months, Americans have reduced their driving by more than 40 billion miles. Because of high gasoline prices, they drove 3.7% fewer miles in May than they did a year earlier, the report says, more than double the 1.8% drop-off seen in April.

The cutback furthers many U.S. policy goals, such as reducing oil consumption and curbing emissions. But, coupled with a rapid shift away from gas-guzzling vehicles, it also means consumers are paying less in federal fuel taxes, which go largely to help finance highway and mass-transit systems. As a result, many such projects may have to be pared down or eliminated.

The challenge comes at a time when surging costs for asphalt and other construction materials already are straining state and local transportation budgets. Those cost increases make it more expensive to maintain the nation's roads, bridges and rail networks.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1217...googlenews_wsj

[Bandit]

here is another tax to add:

A % tax for underground storage tank fund, and other local sales and gasoline taxes.

we also get stuck paying for the underground tanks. woohoo.

[Bandit]

Funds for Highways Plummet As Drivers Cut Gasoline Use

oh well...the state road outside of my house has not been repaired in over 10 YEARS...what is their excuse for that.

I cut my travel expense to 75% less.
I take the bus to & from work & to & from all hospital & doctor visits. After talking with the bus drivers they say persons riding the bus have doubled in the last two months.

It has been interesting because I enjoy my time commuting more than I did driving myself & I found it a pleasure meeting some of these people who are just like me, along the way...& in my own little boycott.

[AngelinaCatHub]

I stand corrected "Whatmoney". However, Gov has a plan to get us by. Raise the tax per gallon and our roads will be smooth. 'Hub

[ssdsco]

Only problem is that gasoline taxes are calculated per gallon, not as a percentage of the price. So even though prices have doubled, the taxes collected are the same - and since gasoline consumption has decreased with higher prices, the tax revenue to the government is now less than last year.

As of July 1, 2008, the average amount of tax imposed on a gallon of gasoline sold in the United States was 49.4 cents per gallon, up 2.4 cents from the January 2008 report. For diesel fuel, the national average amount of tax was 56.4 cents per gallon, up 2.8 cents from the January 2008 report. On average about 11% of gasoline prices are from taxes as of April 2008.
http://www.api.org/statistics/fueltaxes/

Funds for Highways Plummet As Drivers Cut Gasoline Use

An unprecedented cutback in driving is slashing the funds available to rebuild the nation's aging highway system and expand mass-transit options, underscoring the economic impact of high gasoline prices. The resulting financial strain is touching off a political battle over government priorities in a new era of expensive oil.

A report to be released Monday by the Transportation Department shows that over the past seven months, Americans have reduced their driving by more than 40 billion miles. Because of high gasoline prices, they drove 3.7% fewer miles in May than they did a year earlier, the report says, more than double the 1.8% drop-off seen in April.

The cutback furthers many U.S. policy goals, such as reducing oil consumption and curbing emissions. But, coupled with a rapid shift away from gas-guzzling vehicles, it also means consumers are paying less in federal fuel taxes, which go largely to help finance highway and mass-transit systems. As a result, many such projects may have to be pared down or eliminated.

The challenge comes at a time when surging costs for asphalt and other construction materials already are straining state and local transportation budgets. Those cost increases make it more expensive to maintain the nation's roads, bridges and rail networks.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1217...googlenews_wsj

Thanks for the correction. I gotta stop making stuff up or go into politics.

[ssdsco]

oh well...the state road outside of my house has not been repaired in over 10 YEARS...what is their excuse for that.

I cut my travel expense to 75% less.
I take the bus to & from work & to & from all hospital & doctor visits. After talking with the bus drivers they say persons riding the bus have doubled in the last two months.

It has been interesting because I enjoy my time commuting more than I did driving myself & I found it a pleasure meeting some of these people who are just like me, along the way...& in my own little boycott.

The boycott is working. Oil/gas prices are dropping due to reduced US demand according to the news tonight. Power of the people !

[FLBK7]

ooooooooooooooooo, let's not open that can of worms again!

You won't be able to shut me up!

ep

I'm with you, Ep, and I'm in South Florida. That can of worms wouldn't be able to shut me up either! LOL

[Bandit]

Thanks for the correction. I gotta stop making stuff up or go into politics.

LOL! but that is exactly what the politicians do...they make it all up & get us to believe them... . I was laughing at that

I will take that with me chuckling for the rest of the week. Thanks!

[AngelinaCatHub]

The boycott is working. Oil/gas prices are dropping due to reduced US demand according to the news tonight. Power of the people !

I respectfully disagree with you. We ain't got no money. We runnin on empty. 'Hub

[Bandit]

I think they just mean the demand is down so the price is down...( like nickles & dimes) however it aint down enough to get me to filling up my tank every week like I used to. I wish I had paid closer attention when all this started & I would have boycotted months ago.

Cheney can lick.

[slam22]

Only problem is that gasoline taxes are calculated per gallon, not as a percentage of the price. So even though prices have doubled, the taxes collected are the same - and since gasoline consumption has decreased with higher prices, the tax revenue to the government is now less than last year.

I think for most states that it is true that taxes collected by the states are on a per gallon basis. However in California sales tax of 7.5% to 8.5 % (depending on which county you live) is added on top of all other costs including the actual per gallon gas tax as well as the federal gas tax. So you are actually paying a tax on tax. Hence this is why California has the highest gas tax in the country. And yet there is no money and a $15 billion deficit. Everybody in this state has there hand out for something. They don't call it the Peoples Republic of California for nothing.