Pay For Miles?

[Patch]

Would you be willing to pay 1.5 cents a mile, for every mile you drive in a calendar year? This, in addition to  the federal  taxes on each gallon of gas you purchase. Seem the folks in Oregon are going to try this out.

I drive about 20K a year, but I don't live in Oregon. I could see this happening in many more states if it works in Oregon.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/05/20/oregon-gas-tax-mileage/27676973/

[SavvySwede]

Would you be willing to pay 1.5 cents a mile, for every mile you drive in a calendar year? This, in addition to  the federal  taxes on each gallon of gas you purchase. Seem the folks in Oregon are going to try this out.

I drive about 20K a year, but I don't live in Oregon. I could see this happening in many more states if it works in Oregon.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/05/20/oregon-gas-tax-mileage/27676973/

The mileage tax is supposed to be used in place of the gas tax. So the volunteers for program get a refund of the tax on the gas they buy. Nice idea in theory but I can't help but think its just another way for the government to accumulate more data on everyone.

[AbsoluteTruths]

This coming to all states. Gas tax revenue is falling because fuel efficient vehicles. The governments that depend on these funds have to find another way the collect it. It will also be a way to track us. They will pitch it to us as a good thing.

[DaveP043]

This coming to all states. Gas tax revenue is falling because fuel efficient vehicles. The governments that depend on these funds have to find another way the collect it. It will also be a way to track us. They will pitch it to us as a good thing.

The law of unintended consequences.  When the government enacted requirements for higher gas mileage vehicles, do you think anyone ever asked about the revenue lost from gas taxes, or made any plans for replacing it?  This type of thing is one reason I never trust any governmental projections.  They do their best, but there's just no way to predict how policy changes will effect people's behavior.

[No Mulligans]

Would you be willing to pay 1.5 cents a mile, for every mile you drive in a calendar year?

Would I be willing?

Round trip to and from work is about 12 miles, another 18 cents to get to work.  Yep, I'd still drive to work.  I'd still drive to golf courses also.  Come to think of it, I don't think it would affect any of my driving decisions. So, yes I'd definitely be willing to pay.

Come to think of it, I'm guessing that was a rhetorical question.

[mchepp]

The advertising here is that it helps everyone to "pay their fair share". It is clear they have a problem generating enough revenue to pay for improvements/maintenance. So this is their proposal.

For me, I would rather they look to see if the amount spent is being done so efficiently. So many times I drive past road construction where one guy is working and 3 are standing around watching him.

[CR McDivot]

The advertising here is that it helps everyone to "pay their fair share". It is clear they have a problem generating enough revenue to pay for improvements/maintenance. So this is their proposal.

For me, I would rather they look to see if the amount spent is being done so efficiently. So many times I drive past road construction where one guy is working and 3 are standing around watching him.

As a former DOT supervisor I can assure you that it is hard to get good help. The revenue is there, but it is far harder to get the funds from the fuel tax to pay for actual highway maintenance ( most is diverted to such non performing boondoggles as buses, light rail, bike trails, and aviation which should be required to fund themselves ).

Pay more for even less... HE (double hockey sticks), NO!

Rant over, I'm retired and no longer have to deal with the stress caused by the above.