I guess I don't understand how high-speed tolls would be a bad thing, we have to pay those tolls already at least they won't slow us down as much!. I think use tax is a decent idea but, it does not address promoting fuel economy as well as a gas tax does.

Dick,

I agree with you. Their solution is always to keep taking from the working class who have already provided enough in taxes. I don't agree it should become the sole burden of people who drive to work to pay tolls, because many have long commutes and growing families, drive older vehicles requiring upgrades. A spike in gas prices would forced those drivers to take commuter rails and MBTA, trains barely with a pulse. The people in charge of making these decisions are not the ones commuting on our highways and trains everyday. They are clueless to what the average person must deal with when trying to get to work.

If they want to bring in casinos, who take away from one vulnerable segment of our society, make them pay for the MBTA. That would be the only fair thing to do. I am opposed to allowing casinos, but if they are coming in anyway, regardless if we have a say in it--make them donate at least 50% of their proceeds to charitable contributions. First on that list is the MBTA.

Make mbta workers retire at 67 instead of 55.

In response to 2 suggestions outlined in your article--YES! and YES!

"Keller also said the state could require license fees for bicyclists, whom he said have "been the beneficiaries of a lot of recent public spending." - YES

"Other options, according to the Globe, include using future casino revenue and transferring MBTA debt to the state's books". - YES

This is yet another "too big to fail institution"--The MBTA needs a major overhaul. They should keep people who work hard and toss out those who have dragged this state into major lawsuits, fraudulent disability claims, and created other great monetary losses to further burden the taxpayers. We need a system that works and not one which continues to use trains from 1969. For a state like Mass. to boast about it's new era of techonology--it's an utter disgrace, when it comes to its overly deteriorated train system. If politicians allow developers to keep adding to the already dense housing, they must build a new train system. When they fire the guys at the top, they should not be able to walk away with millions. Top heavy organizations are always bound to fail because they do not fix problems like upgrading systems and paying based on merit. You can also blame those who dumped millions of BIG DIG debt onto the already struggling MBTA. Maybe ask the politicians and developers that question. Don't expect an answer though, egocentrics are rarely open to constructive criticism or responsibility to their constituency.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2012/10/28/state-taxes-states-highest-lowest/1654071/

We are already one of the OVERALL HIGHEST TAXED STATES. It's the sum of all the taxes and fees that matters, not that we are ranked with the 29th highest gas tax. We will soon be number one.

I guess in the end it no longer matters. The gimmie crowd has won. Mass, RI, NY, Ill, Cail and the like are all in serious debt and all with the intent of taxing it's residents into poverty....for the kid's of course.
The Pols and their hacks have nothing to fear. Patrick, Warren and even the crook Tierney all get elected here.
Oh, and this kinda crap, and thousands more like it, are where the money is going.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20121121/APN/1211210936

And this is where they intend on sending more money to. Reform? Nah....why....the voters love us.

http://www.retirementplanblog.com/public-employee-plans-who-has-the-richest-retirement-plan-in-america-the-cta-or-the-mbta.html

Typical, it's been running in the red for years. First year it's runs in the red you work on it, not years later. Dumb. I don't have enough money to pay all my bills I have to look at the problem and fix it, not ignore it. The idiots responsable should be the ones paying. Any by all means the bikers. Every lane is high speed now, try driving the posted speed. Most likley it will be a gas tax, I can't see any other way. Not that I want it, I average $300 a month now and I am very carefull(cheap). But my work truck is what's killing me. Don't worry about the casino money, I am sure they have already blown that and they don't even have it yet.

Who Me--

If you are suggesting that Romney/Brown would have saved us from the evils unleashed upon the working middle class--you are wrong. Wall Street has created that beast which will not die. They seduced over 50 million unsuspecting investors, pension holders, homeowners and municipalities nation wide who bought into their crooked schemes. Remember, their most important allies are those who help them get re-elected, many lobbyists in DC, those Alan Grayson referred to as the "K Street Brothel", actually, he called them something more vulgar, but same meaning. There is still far too much damage caused by the economic fallout such that there needs to be a remedy. But when you use a simple term as "the system was rigged to fail", it is simply that--they knew they would get away with it and we would all have to suffer for their countless crimes. The answer is also simple--we all have to figure out how to cut our own household expenses and simultaneously work together to find solutions to these problems. If a politician is not doing his/her job--we need proof, then they get the boot. We can't continually complain without taking some responsibility and holding them accountable. If we do nothing, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Civil unrest has perpetuated much tension and hostility within communities which once got along with their neighbors. The root of these issues is systemic.

Ahhhhh yes.....The Evil Republican's and George Bush did it. I keep forgetting. Amazing how much mileage you guys get out of that.

Anyway, interesting you brought up Federal. Federal has nothing to do with Massachusetts being one of the highest taxes States. Federal has nothing to do with the massive and staggering debt at the MBTA. Federal has nothing to do with allowing folks at the MBTA to retire after only 23 years of service. Federal has nothing to do with allowing retirees to pay nothing for heath care. Although I would guess, given enough time, we could pin that on Bush and the evil empire as well.

Now ummmmm...back to Federal a bit.
Now the USPS is losing 15 Billion a year, as in Federal.
Almost 80% of it's budget is salaries and benefits. Yet, to date, no plan to dig where the gold is has been announced, they just want a bailout...you know, kinda like the MBTA and all.
Anyway, what would be the plan of attack to say "pin" it on Bush and those darn pesky evil Republicans so as to allow tax dollars to bail out the Federal USPS system?

We pay enough taxes now to operate very nicely both on the state and federal levels. All we need to do is cut and reduce spending. Raising taxes will not solv the problems. The rub here is that fed and state workers will be eliminated and certain programs will be cut and that includes the military. So be it. This nation needs to stop putzing around and reduce our over bloated government. Anything other than this is simply spitting in the wind.

Who me,
The Feds could fix it, but union to heavys are also the problem. Remember the big dig cost over runs? Isn't it the duty of our federal govt. To do an audit when federal funds are being used, and then its debt is circumvented onto a separate entity called the MBTA which is run by the state? If the AG can't look into an audit, then the US attorney's office could conduct an investigation since transportation is federally funded.. If they are in fact "separate", what is the problem?

Wow this article created a huge argument in my house. The longer you commute the more money and time you already spend getting to work and now we need to be punished even more? Gas is already way too much. If these are the only options tax the cyclists but how will this be enforced. None of these are good options.

Why would you suggest to the corrupt lawmakers how to tax us anymore? I am overtaxed as it is. God forbid that the part time lawmakers take a paycut. They work 6 month a year and get paid for the whole year. These corrupt officials are laughing at us all the way to the bank.
Cut them first? it will never happen.....

Have yourselves a glance at this. See what your state Reps are getting paid, for what they do. This is the Reps only, 160 of them.. They are currently on vacation until January, since August. Full benefits and every perk in the book.
http://www.bostonherald.com/projects/your_tax_dollars.bg?src=State2011#page=1&results_per_page=20&order_by=&src=State2011&action=get_data&payroll_search=&department_name=House%20of%20Representatives

I can't say I support any of these initiatives, but maybe high-speed tolls as a last resort.

Wasnt the big selling point for casinos in Massachusetts that they'd provide a new source of funds for roads, bridges, and schools? What happened to that promise?

Casinos? Somehow i can't picture a resort casino in East boston/Revere? Who in their right mind would drive into that area to go to a casino? Look at the traffic jams each day around that area. Maybe the cruise ship lines will make Eastie/Revere a destination stop on their cruise schedule!! Not!!!!
This could be a huge failure.

Let me tell you how it will be,
There’s one for you, nineteen for me,
‘Cause I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don’t take it all.
‘Cause I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.

(If you drive a car ), I’ll tax the street,
(If you try to sit ), I’ll tax your seat,
(If you get too cold ), I’ll tax the heat,
(If you take a walk ), I’ll tax your feet.
Taxman.

‘Cause I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
Don’t ask me what I want it for
If you don’t want to pay some more
‘Cause I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.

There isn't enough money on the planet to finance the promises made by Public Employee Unions and Marxist Politicians. Liberals are mathematically illiterate.

So the EXCISE tax, is that for the state to buy ice cream and candy? This ______ state! Manage the budget better jerks!!

Mark,

If your claim is that liberals are mathematically illiterate-- my claim is that neo-conservatives are morally, ethically & socially corrupt.

We have serious issues in this region of Boston which will reshape the demographics of our cities in the next 20 yrs. Foremost, the gentrification which swept this area by force continues to erode our family neighborhoods. The cry of "progress" has been heard by developers as their wrecking ball is looming upon us. No compromises, only a push to force the working families out of our cities by taking away their grocery stores, jobs & homes. When the landlords decide it's time to cash in & "flip" this place for more blocks of condos, taxes do not decrease.

In 25 yrs, what will the wealthy elite do when all their services can't be met? Who will pick up their trash, landscape their lawns & fix their plumbing? Will they be building a shack in the backyard for the hired help to reside? I guess they'll have to contact their reps who will push for more H1B visas for all those off shore residents. As long as the illegals are necessary for their own ill gotten gains, they will accept them--but NO SOCCER FIELDS, PLEASE!
What about forcing the rich to pay their taxes? Taxing based on income is fair. NO MORE TAX BREAKS for those who do not create jobs as promised. They have been freeloading long enough off the backs of the working class.

Margaret Thatcher? Seriously, England is the last place you should be using as an example. They invented colonization and ravaged under-developed nations across the globe--India, areas of S. Africa, and Sierre Leone, most recently, Iraq. I'm sure there are over a hundred more, but we have been trained not to talk about such things because it's not so "PC", since they are a so called "allie". How about the Mayflower crowd and their southern plantations. How soon we forget history.

The people you should be paying attention to, who "...run out of other people's money"...is the criminal enterprise, aka Wall Street, their closet friends in Predatory Banking, credit card companies, hedgefunds, AIG, GS, among other major thieves.

Elizabeth Warren said today during an interview, that credit companies have been sued for $1.5 billion dollars for all the scams they pulled on customers. That is only the tip of the iceberg. Who will save them now that Mitt and Brown are out of the game?

Would you be addressing me, Reverend? So what have you to say about the billions harnessed by organized religion? Just ask Mitt, he'll tell you.

Higher gas tax is the fairest. By far. It covers usage with the least expense and intrusion, and does not create the unnecessary and distorting distinction between toll and non-toll roads. Btw, here's a deal: don't extend or replace the bonds on toll roads, but let them mature, pay them off over the coming decades, and replace funding via the gas tax. Bonds on tollways should not functionally be a perpetuity (something that Robert Moses pioneered in NY State).

"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. the other is by debt." John Adams

You had better come to grips with mathematical FACTS because if you don't and continue to allow your vote to be bought with fraudulent promises that cannot be kept then it is inevitable that our nation's economy and government will collapse.

That's not an opinion, it's a mathematical certainty. The schemes and scams in DC and through the financial system are at their core attempts to avoid the outcome of basic arithmetic.

Every service you demand must be paid for in current taxes! Without exception!

Private sector white collar criminals are the scourge to our working class livelihoods.

Mark,

My answer is BOYCOTT. My car is 12 years old, I drive only when I have to & use crappy MBTA. Black Friday = lure consumers who are already strapped with too much debt. I keep a low balance on one credit card. I urge complete reform for Realtors, Mortgage Lenders & Banking. There are too many abuses within this system of pack-rats. MERS scam must be rooted out, let homeowners pay fair mortgage rates for homes at true value/principal, not overly inflated prices, for others to benefit, then we may be able to fix the economy. If not--Greed in over-development & banking will continue to create catastrophic financial tsunamis--allowing the few to gain excessive monetary benefits. "Government has coddled, accepted, ignored white-collar crime for too long...It is time the nation woke up and realized that it's not the armed robbers or drug dealers who cause the most economic harm, it's the white collar criminals living in the most expensive homes who have the most impressive resumes who harm us the most. They steal our pensions, bankrupt our companies, and destroy thousands of jobs, ruining countless lives....unknown foreign Madoff feeder funds..silent victims included Russian mobsters and Latin American drug cartels, “dirty money” investors. (SEC whistleblower ignored for years--Harry Markoplos, Congressional hearings, wiki)

A gas tax is regressive by design.
Since MA CORPORATIONS are able to write off all of their tax preparation costs, by which they are able to avoid paying their share, and the cost of their legal bribery (also called Legislation), why don't we find a way to recapture some of the costs of delivering the wage-slaves to their open, tax-dodging, doors? I'm not talking about mom-and-pops, which are already nearly extinct for other reasons, but the huge multi-nationals that decide not to build or pay for pah-kin for their employees...because why bother if it's near a T-stop! Everyone should be helping out, as taxes would be higher on all statewide, if Boston doesn't have a viable transportation system.

Jon,

There too many aggressive bicyclists on the roads who are creating unsafe driving conditions for motorists & some are taking out pedestrians in signaled crosswalks. Lawsuits stem from such accidents and worse.

When newcomers call our politicians screaming for more bike paths & expanded bike lanes lined with granite, decorative pathways with marbled planters--who pays for it? WE ARE. More local bike paths alone would cost over $10 million to start, not including the rest of the city streets. But they want what they want because that is how they have had it out in suburbia--now that mom and dad have lost their investment portfolios, junior's trust fund has gone POOF! But instead of blaming their Wall Street college buddies, they turn to our metro-areas now--it's the gimmee--gimmee--gimmee crowd. They have college loans, parents are paying for and no job, so becoming a transient menace is their latest hobby.

I drive a 12 year old car, but my insurance rates are based on what everyone else does with their car, not how good a driver I am. Can I get free insurance based on being a good driver with no accidents in over 20 years? Hell no, I must pay for everyone else.

Lets talk about parking tickets, parking meters and other fines. It all has to do with services provided we must all pay for and people who are being hired to do these jobs. You know we must keep all local families on municipal, private and federal payrolls. Why stop now?

Enough regressive taxes! Especially since we don't have representation. Tax the corporations that use the roadways the most. UPS, FedEX, Trucking Giants. Also those companies that make people drive to work (and pay for parking). Discounts for telecommuting companies. Also tax the MA financial industry on transactions they charge for selling stocks. A Tobin Tax.

Yes, Pino,

The only thing left to do is reform campaign financing so that elections are run fair. No more corporate donations, and whoever does contribute to politicians, they should have their names and businesses on a website for public viewing. If a politician is not doing their job--they are voted out of office. There should be no safeguards in place based on cushy relationships from business deals. This is the reason we have so many problems in government.

This would also make our politicians more accountable to the people and force them to work harder to pass laws that will help the working class and our elderly who have also been short changed over the past 10 years.

There are many within these circles who have become too self-involved. Why should they care about us, when they know their campaigns are being paid for by billionaires and millionaires who are running the world?

Oh yeah, WBZ pundit Jon Keller is a numbskull.

TomH,
My rate is at the lowest it can be, but I know I am still paying too much because I live in the city. The same car registered in a rural town of Mass would be about 50% less. Please explain why people are paying over $800 a year in excise tax when our roads are a mine field disaster, & when damage is done the city won't pay to have your car repaired. Why should I pay the RMV 5% tax on bill of sale, based on blue book value, for a car I paid $1000 less? That is illegal. If I had a business and charged you 10% instead of 5% isn't that the same thing? Let's talk about city ordinances they enforce like not having a cover on your trash, $50 fine, if not paid, is $80, you appeal, they deny, send a letter telling you if you wish to fight it in court, it's a $125 fee. Laughable if not so pathetic. I was told the building inspectors were afraid of losing their jobs & that is why they went around our neighborhoods issuing tickets & taking pictures of our barrels without lids, under our decks at 3 o'clock in the morning. If you don't shovel within 24 hrs, it's $25.00, even when it's 1" of snow on the ground. False snow emergencies are another scam--$100, no snow fall. But people pay because they know their appeals will be denied. One day at T&P office, a woman had a complete meltdown & screaming fit with a clerk behind "bullet proof" glass. What a spectacle--I felt bad for the woman who wanted to know why she could not get a temp.permit for her car. She was mistreated.

If you are parked at a meter and get a $50 ticket for a moving violation--failure to renew inspection sticker, do those proceeds go to the state?

Towing companies and cities they operate--what's the deal? Shaking people down for $300, daily rental, other charges is outrageous. Why hasn't anyone tried to change that system? Don't bother to explain, I already have my own suspicions and none of it is good. Anyone who has experienced the ugly confines of a tow truck yard and office, can tell you.

Hey, Tax Raytheon, they have oodles of all that DEFENSE money. Start taxing them at 50% to start.

Crap, why is all my tinfoil missing?

When is enough...well...enough?
How many taxes will be "enough"?
Is it the Democrats intention to bring us to the edge of financial insolvency?
Massachusetts is technically bankrupt from over spending.
How many of you are aware that Tewksbury "owes" in current and future debt almost a quarter of a Billion Dollars?
Cities in California are filing for bankruptcy.
Ill,RI,NY, and several other States are not far behind.
Is it the State Democrats intention to join them?

http://taxfoundation.org/article/massachusetts-state-and-local-tax-burden-1977-2010

Democrats never get this. Like Somerville girl they believed there is an infiinite supply of other people's money, especially from the 'rich'. Or they think the problem could be solved by eliminating 'waste' until they remember the patronage jobs they created.

Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

Don't be so naive. Wall Street lost millions of pensions in our municipalities. Why aren't they going to jail for serious crimes they have committed? Elizabeth Warren is already taking steps to reform the criminal behavior on Wall Street. It's too bad some of your Republicans don't have a set to go after these bums. It comes down to two things: "I don't want to lose my investments, how do we fix this"?, and or, "What will I do I can't get re-elected next term"?

All one has to do is watch these three simple videos to understand what really happened, but because there are certain people who believe the true meaning of Capitalism means--Robbing the Taxpayers, they are blinded by what they have done to ruin our economy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6Im9W4gwNc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE3oiKuU8UI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj0JAfq4esk

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/greed-and-debt-the-true-story-of-mitt-romney-and-bain-capital-20120829

Wow.....so every time the stock market goes down the Republican's did it?
That is so messed up.
Repeat after me.
There is no guarantee that the stock market will make money.
The market goes up....the market goes down...it's called economics.
Every financial expert in the WORLD will tell you this simple fact, there is no way that public pensions would ever be self funded. It was, is and will always be mathematically IMPOSSIBLE. It ignores the financial history of over 100 years of the stock market performance. Of course that's why they made the plans a "defined benefit" plan as it guarantees the benefit regardless of stock market performance. Massachusetts owes close to 65 Billion Dollars to Pension and Heathcare debt. And this "debt" would have happened regardless of who was in the White House.

The largest problem with the cost of public transportation is how much they are paying people (salary & benifits) in the transportation system. They need to reign in those costs. The MBTA should be paid for by the people that use it. Aside from that I have no problem paying my fair share for roads & bridges but don't we already pay $0.21 per gallon of gas towards that? or is all that money being used to pay for inflated MBTA costs?

You will see "Revenue Collectors" earning 70-80K and about. Making change for criss sakes. And these are just salaries, not their heath care or pension costs.

This is why they want transponders in your cars, higher gas taxes, raising the income tax and the like.

We now live in a state where many truly believe they have a RIGHT to your money, your savings, your property and whatever else they can get their hands on.

http://www.bostonherald.com/projects/your_tax_dollars.bg?src=Mbta2011#page=1&results_per_page=20&order_by=&src=Mbta2011&action=get_data&payroll_search=&department=

We can't fix it. Too many of the "gimme" crowd to beat back and not enough of the worker bees left.
I still remember the fellow at Town Meeting, during the water/sewer debate over adding it to the property tax. This fellow spent over $5000 worth of water keeping his lawn green. Instead of being taken to task over such a foolish waste and being told it was his poorly thought out decision, he stood there and said that not only would he continue wasting water...he wanted the rest rest of us to help him pay for it. And the minions went along. The entitlement crowd has truly taken over.
The only thing that will fix it is when it all crashes and we have to start over.
Greece is to California is to Massachusetts. Just a question of when.

How much money does Mass take in from sales tax on automobiles? where does it all go? New cars, Used cars, Every day 100s of cars get registered across the state and the buyer is paying tax. Where does it all go.

Who me,
You're wrong about wall street. They changed their own rules so they could steal from the taxpayers. Even my friend, who worked on wall street for a number if years admits are solely responsible for the massive layoffs, foreclosures, lending fraud, created. and duped investors who bought their hedgefund schemes. Even when they demanded bailouts, they claimed they would fix the mess they created.

How are they doing, so far?

I'm serious guys, my tinfoil, it's gone, all gone!

With more fuel efficient vehicles and people driving less due to $4 gas, states gas tax revenues are in the toilet. So our feckless leaders need to figure out another scheme to gouge the taxpayer.
How is one to pay for Billy Bulger's $300K pension and thousands of Illegal Aliens in state tuition and unlimited health care?
Liberals are mathematically illiterate.

The worst part about this article is that it is going across communities. The needs of every community are different and what the people that live in each want are different. I would far rather have this discussion with my neighbors who live near me so i can better understand their opinions rather than people in other towns. I wish the patch would get back to focusing on Local new and dialogue

@ Dave Gray they pay a big chunk to it. Them the T matches it. They may have upped it to 25 years by now not sure but the retirement from the T is very large. Many have taken it and worked another job in their trade. Also some didnt just lived on it witch was substantial. There was or still is plenty of Overtime say that too is applied.

@ Daniel. "This thread is supposed to be about taxes that relate to the state's transportation system and infrastructure. Please stay on topic."

Are you really that naive? Where do you think our liberal Congress Critters are getting the funds to pay for all the Illegal Immigrants in this state? I am using Illegals as an example but we could be talking about a entire host of things they use our tax dollars for instead of their intended purpose.

Do you think they have a "special super secret fund" they use to pay for Illegal Aliens housing, education, health care, courts and prisons?

The liberal crooks on Beacon Hill steal it from the entire pie of revenue.

So, until the crooks on Beacon Hill stop raping the taxpayer with their schemes and cons and start using our tax dollars for their intended purposes, then yes everything is on the table and open to discussion.

"special super secret fund"

MY SIDES HAVE LEFT THE ATMOSPHERE

seriously, my tinfoil, it's gone

Just remember, those very same undocumented immigrants were our previous generations of Irish and Italians who migrated here due to the horrors of war, many who suffered in their own countries. Your government wants them here so they can work as a slave labor force, live in the worst conditions, but apparently not as disgusting as what they face in their own home country's polluted water, unfit to drink, & the lethal drug cartels who believe in decapitation of thousands. I'd love to see how you would hold up living under those conditions for just one day. Many Americans abuse these people everyday, many of our lawyers take their money for years, promising them documents which never materialize, when they can barely feed their own families. If you bothered to take your head out of the sand for five minutes & talk to an immigration lawyer, one with ethics, you will understand what is really going on here. While your at it, check out the massage parlors & hair salons. There was a story a few years ago, one of our neighboring towns. The owner got busted for charging $5k to young women who wanted to obtain licenses to cut hair because it helped them become legal. The owner took 50%, the other 50% went to an American in NY who was issuing these cards. The back room was a massage parlor. Another night club establishment over by the shore, did the same and girls were forced to hand over their tips at the end of the night. Need I say more?

And we wonder about uncollected taxes.

Don't forget the construction guys who hire these very same immigrants you speak about. They work them 12 hour days in the hot sun without worker's comp, or health insurance. If they don't feel like paying them at the end of the week, end of the month, they don't and there is absolutely nothing that worker can do about it. Stories like these make us proud, don't they?

If the worker falls off the ladder and is severely injured, who pays? The contractor? The homeowner?

Our family has been in the trades for over 75 years, some were teamsters, others owned their own businesses. It is the obligation of the contractor to provide worker's compensation for all employees--it is the LAW. But in this case, I guess it becomes a welcomed grey area for all those who benefit. And people wonder why our healthcare is in trouble. When employers don't provide worker's compensation to their workers, what other choice do they have? Would you deny this benefit to your best friend, son or nephew if he joined your business? If he's fallen off the ladder and sustains a broken leg or worse, are you going to leave him there to fend for himself? Doubtful.

These people may as well be invisible because there is never compensation for them since they cannot go to the courts. They can open bank accounts because our banks are happy to take whatever money they can make.

And we wonder about uncollected taxes.

An amazing answer to this question was broadcast this morning (11/25) on Living on Earth. Called "Value Capture", developer and GWU professor Christopher Leinberger explains it beautifully. Read about it at www.loe.org ("Prospering Public Transportation") or listen to the podcast available there. A true "AHA".

David,

Thank you for posting this link.

The real estate developers should "pony up" the cost for our MBTA since they benefit the most by their lucrative investments.

While attending local meetings on our undeveloped existing and untaxed real estate, which some have been sitting for over 10 years, PHCS, Teele Square (previous fire burned an entire block of businesses), and now Johnnies' Foodmaster--my comment, "the developers should have to pay for new traffic devices and parking for their tenants condos, etc., because they were considering 113 additional condos to our already dense area where a school and park was built and abandoned--the answer by the city planner....."WE CANNOT ASK DEVELOPERS TO DO THAT".....

Which leads me to consider, where are the developers putting their money if not to help the already burdened infrastructure to our over-populated West Somerville?

My taxes have tripled within 7 years, and the town assessor showing up at my door every three months to try to reassess the value. I contacted the town to complain since they knew the work was not completed and instead of implementing 3-4 adjustments, I demanded they do only one, at the time the work was finished. I'm also convinced there are those not paying their fair share of taxes. There is much they could be scaling back and should expect developers to pay since they will be making millions on the green line extension and new business deals.

David,

The remark, "College Educated" for walkable regions....I don't believe that is a fair comment, there are plenty of "College Educated", who will not part with their SUV's and white picket fenced sprawling colonial who would choose to live in the burbs' because they are convinced it's safer, cleaner and a better place to raise a family. I disagree--it depends on the family values and how they raise their children. I've lived in both city and suburbs. Suburbs short-term. City is by far better because you are forced to tolerate diversity, you learn more because there is so much going on around you.

If the next plan of action is to make suburbs walkable places--I'm all for it. Then maybe they won't all be migrating to Somerville, which is already over capacity.

Mark,

Republicans want the illegals just as much as Democrats, if not more.

You know, those oranges in California must be picked in 95 degree heat in the shade, by someone other than Americans because we expect cost of living wages and healthcare benefits. What self-serving wretched creatures we are to make such outlandish demands. Who do you think the CEO of that orange grove votes for?

If you look at the bigger picture, immigration creates jobs for thousands who work in border patrol, as well as within our prisons. If we had no illegals, there would be other problems. Would you layoff all border patrol employees? Close down the prisons?

I pose these questions to a few attorney friends, who say--"the reason we can't send them back is because their countries will not accept them".

When you have slave labor in the millions, who wants to get rid of that? They talk out of both sides of their mouth. There are always more voters!

We had several presidents who did not want to have foreign trade or relations, they were all before my time. I think two were McKinley and Taft, but an older friend had shared when I asked the question.

I don't have any answers other than to say this--We should be asking these questions of our politicians who talk the talk and don't walk the walk. If these people are so bad, why haven't they been sent back home?

I tell you, there is far too much profit to be gained by keeping them here. And the police state must keep on trucking.

Matt,

You should watch, "Get The Gringo" with Mel Gibson. It just might be based on true events.

I would fire the woman they just hired to run the MBTA. She left the Atlanta system nearly $40 million in the hole. I would get rid of EBT and welfare and deport the illegal aliens and all the financial woes for the state and country would heal on their own.

Sand Man,

Not only should they be forced to pay fees as drivers, (licensing, registration and excise tax, and parking fees), they should also have their bicycle license revoked for creating accidents which leave others injured, disabled, out of work while forcing our insurance premiums to soar and apply avoidable surcharges due their own negligence.

I don't know if any of the local politicians or law enforcement is hearing us on these issues, they are more concerned with the city surplus account. But as I have suggested--if you don't take care of the people who vote you into office, when they finally take over our city, they will be taking your jobs as well.

I've seen this happen in other areas of the state--those who don't understand the repercussions of gentrification, are also ignorant to the negative impacts of our communities. Researchers have done the work and they have studied these communities which where taken over. The most important factor they cite is that the newcomers, unlike local born and raised residents do not have any loyalties to their homes, neighbors or townships. They could care less about it because many are accustomed to moving around with mom and dad who's only mission is to buy low and sell high, each time making huge profits in their own suburban homes. That's fine, more American Dreamers cashing out, but that leaves our communities BROKE, when they decide they are bored again and must move on.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/20/ccac-obamacare_n_2165383.html
Congratulations on electing your man. I wish you full time workers the best.
You have no idea what is going to happen to you. And your job.
Obamacare is going to downsize your job from full time, to part time.

Saul she is only going to make our system worse. She is part of the continued proble here. She wasn't hired for being the best candidate for the job but for the image they wanted. Hasn't worked for a president, governor and now a newly elected senator.

TomH,

Car was owned by a family member about 6 yrs ago, complained he paid close to same years that followed. Vehicle, one yr old, paid over $30k.

The RMV made me pay sales tax based on $3950 for a car I only paid $2950 by a private owner. He wrote me a bill of sale which was presented to the RMV for plates and registration. I tried to dispute the obvious over-charge. I was told the state charges 5% sales tax based on the blue book value and not what was paid. I did not have a cancelled check to prove, but maybe next time I should bring in the buyer to testify on my behalf if their claim is I falsified the bill of sale. Maybe that's why they do it, I have no idea, but I'm really tired of the ongoing scams that are pulled on average citizens everyday by towns and state. Most recent blunder, was the mistake of a parking meter attendant who actually tried to charge me $25 for what he claimed-"the parking office said my meter was at 0.00" -- (advanced technology-computer chips in meters alert them to tag our cars minutes before they run out, hoping to ensure fee) yet, I had 15 minutes left and he tagged the wrong meter because my ticket listed another. A witnessed watched me put money in and saw him tag my car--I called to report it, after getting no where with the attendant and it was removed by supervisor on the phone. Things are really out of control! It's one thing to legitimately issue a ticket for valid reasons, something else when it's just outright extortion!

Yes, TomH, agreed. My only point in bringing up the extremely high excise tax is two-fold:

I refuse to buy a new car and many are in agreement with me--they are made with cheap products which break down easily--"make them to break them", profiteers of the corporate business model. Older cars were made better, mine is a Volvo and by far it's been the best of all American cars I've driven, young and old. Families cannot afford to buy new cars in addition to continued increases in gas prices.
The high excise tax "x" millions of motorists throughout the commonwealth, and these towns and cities can't get a grip on the poor conditions of our roads? Look at the LongFellow Bridge, for one example. It's been a heap of crumbling metal for decades.

Grayson demanded an audit of the Fed Reserve. I also say, we as taxpayers of the commonwealth, should be demanding audits of our town books as well as the state.

And no hiring of friends for that job--it should be done by an objective party if there is one which exists. All one has to do is look at this link http://www.theotherschoolofeconomics.org/?p=2499 to understand the various conflicts of interest which exists within this realm of pols and affiliations. It all stinks to high heaven and as one homeowner who has an obligation to myself, as I pay my taxes and other expenses, I have a right as we all do, to know how our money is being spent. People don't recover from 2 yr. layoffs over-night, luckily I am no longer unemployed.

Sand Man,

I'm planning to write more stories, one on the old Ford site. This situation really has weighed heavily on me since I went to school with some of them and I am not discounting anything you have written in previous posts. I try to always be a diplomat can weigh in on both sides.

However the larger scale tax issue having to do with the state deficit has a great deal to do with mismanagement and yes, poor judgement in hiring practices. The closing of Johnnie's, empty grammar school and ugly crater are in my neighborhood. Rumors are circulating that the college is going to be taking one parcel, there goes another non-taxable real estate venture! Then the tax burden comes down on us. William Worthy wrote on this problem as well. One case study was a NY hospital. They took over an entire apartment complex to expand. If they can't take homes by scamming people into mortgage fraud, they will eventually find a way and here we are--developers found this gold mine about 10 years ago and now they are here to stay. I blog for free and whatever people don't want me to write, I don't write. Take care and thanks for your words of wisdom. The upcoming local elections should be interesting. I sense changes are on the horizon. Peace.

How about cutting the large salaries of the administrators and pensions for part time employees such as the politicians.

I think what is missing from the tax/mile debate are the restaurants or stores what will be effected by this tax. Instead of taking that nice trip for a dinner into the city, you will rethink that due to the extra costs of just doing so. Driving down to Foxboro now for Pats games or into Boston for a Sox game? Now that costs you extra (I drive in from Lowell). On top of the excise tax already, which is ridiculous, this would be too much, even for this state. And don't get me started on the "device" they want to put into your car to track us. Just what we need...

This tax would just make my cost of going to work increase. Atlas will shrug.

I remember when the Pike was declared to be in great shape and the bonds were paid off. The tolls were going to come down and bam! The Pike was "crumbling roads and bridges". Tolls stayed, bonds were reissued and the gas tax went up and was earmarked for crumbling bridges. Except the legislature can't earmark a tax so it went into the general fund. then of course the Duke said that since all the bridges couldn't be fixed at the same time it wouldn't be fair to just repair a few. Don't do anything creative like prioritize the worst ones. Oh no.

Liberals are Mathematically Illiterate!
3% raise to 460 Beacon Hill Staffers
In State Tuition to Illegal Immigrants
$93M in 2011 to Illegal Immigrants Health Care
Revenues for October down $53 million or 8.8% year over year
And our Democrat Masters want to gouge us with increased transportation tax. If you voted for these Congress Critters you are an idiot.

No one has mentioned the easiest fix: get rid of the Prevailing Wage law. A study by the Beacon Hill Institute found that because of the inflated Massachusetts prevailing wage public construction project costs are inflated by 22%. Massachusetts does not use Bureau of Labor Statistics rates for Massachusetts. Ours are much higher. (Guess why.) A $50 million project should cost $39 million. That's an $11 million savings by eliminating the inflated prevailing wage.

Seems there's a client group that consistently works to elect one party in this state who are the primary beneficiaries of this inflated prevailing wage. No wonder the leader of that party won't take this sensible action, and instead keeps proposing taking more of our money. Got to keep the client group happy and the votes and campaign cash coming in. Don't do what's right. Do what keeps you in power.

In a Commonwealth, like MA, any revenues generated through taxes go into a general fund and are fought over in the next budget session. Taxes raised at the gas pump could very well be spent on providing health and unemployment benefits to illegals. Even if the justification for the higher taxes is infrastructure improvements, state government is not obligated to spend it that way. But you people keep debating over who should pay more and for what. Its Its that kind of naivete that keeps lying politicians like warren, Patrick, Kerry, et al in power. They rely on the fact that the voting public is too lazy to educate themselves on how and why our supposedly limited government has grown into the huge and over-reaching albatross burdening and chipping away at our freedoms. So keep arguing over how much bicyclists have to pay to use the roads. Your guvna would rather you waste your energy on that rather than educate yourself about his job.

That's right R Gagnon.....
They love Deval. And Obama, but when they re-elected Obama they got Obamacare, which is going to cause all sorts of problems. Picture the full time workers at Trader Joes and those type of stores. No doubt a Obama type clientele. These people who are holding down full time jobe at these places, are in danger of having their jobs downsized to part time status, all because of loopholes in Obamacare rules on providing healthcare to full time workers.
Educate themselves? These poor people have no idea what is in store for them and their jobs.
They have no cluse what they voted for...

Obama Care:
All part time 36 hour per week jobs will be reduced, along with wages, to 30 hours per week.
Homes with guns stored will be considered unsafe environments disqualifying the gun owner form signing on to the government insurance programs until he gives up his weapons.
According to the USSC, Obama Care is a tax. This tax will be paid by everybody, regardless of income. So much for his promise of no new taxes on middle class families.
An unelected panel of political appointees will oversee who gets treatment and who does not (death panel).
Nothing good will ever come of this and its the lazy uneducated voters we all have to thank for it.

Wars did not break any budget. The cost of the wars was much less than the cost of the expanded non-defense budgets brought about by Bush and exponentially grown by Obama.

An interesting analysis of the best to worst run states. MA comes in at 19:
19. Massachusetts
> Debt per capita: $11,310 (the highest)
> Budget deficit: 8.6% (42nd largest)
> Unemployment: 7.4% (tied-18th lowest)
> Median household income: $62,859 (5th highest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 11.6% (9th lowest)

Relative to its income, there is no state that overspends more than Massachusetts. In fiscal year 2010, state revenue was $50.4 billion, the 11th-highest in the country, while state debt was $73.9 billion, the third-highest in the country. That debt to revenue ratio of nearly 1.5 to 1 was by far the worst in the U.S. State debt per resident was more than $11,000, the highest in the nation. The state’s high debt comes from its spending on social programs. Total state expenditure per capita in 2010 was $7,900 per person, which was among the highest in the nation. Thanks to Massachusetts’ largely mandated health care system, introduced by former Governor Mitt Romney, just 4.3% of state residents were without health insurance coverage, the lowest in the nation.

Read more: The Best and Worst Run States in America: A Survey of All 50 - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2012/11/27/the-best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-a-survey-of-all-50/#ixzz2DTCh72jz

Karl,

In response to your earlier comment: "You want to raise taxes, and make people pay their fair share, but you won't put a quarter in the meter, or get your car inspected, and then complain about it.

Maybe you should pay your fair share first?"

I explained both situations in detail--There was a witnessed who saw me put the quarter in the meter. She happened to be leaving a convenient store with her two children. When I added a quarter to my meter, it had 7 minutes remaining, after my quarter, I had 22 minutes to be precise. I ran into the dry cleaners to drop off some clothes and was in there for less than 5 minutes. When I came out, the woman told me I had a ticket before I reached my car and said she watched me put the quarter in the meter. She asked me to check the meter number on the ticket and it did not match the meter which I was parked at so I know the meter attendant made a mistake. He was about a block away and tried to talk to him and he lashed out and said the call came from the parking office. This was North Cambridge. I told him I was calling his supervisor which I did and told her I had a witness, explained where I was parked, where the meter was located and she suggested I could have not been at the right meter, which was incorrect--this block has about 5 meters, a hydrant and one last meter. The hydrant was at the rear of my car so I know I was at the second to last meter. No way it was the wrong meter. She issued me a "0" statement in the mail.

Karl,

Second situation: Inspection sticker--it was 3 days late, my error. It was a Friday night, my mechanic was still on duty. I asked to keep my car overnight so I wouldn't get more tickets. On Monday, I paid the ticket. This was Somerville. A friend of mine who happens to be MSP said, "That is a moving violation which is not suppose to be handled by municipalities traffic & parking office--it is the state that is suppose to get the money for this fine". So, maybe you should call the state police and ask them yourself.

There have been other issues with regard to tickets in Somerville. I think Cambridge is now catching on--like they need the money.

My issue is this--if there is a legitimate fine, I do not have a problem paying for it. But when the parking attendants are scamming motorists because they have to fill their quota or supposedly "keep their jobs", as in my incidents with the inspectional services department--that is in violation of their duty to collect fines.

I have already spoken about these problems to officials. I have been told that it shouldn't have been done this way, but if people don't complain, nothing will change. Another ticket was during a snow emergency--we had NO SNOW.

Son was going to a Red Sox game w/friends. The meter attendant gave every one of them a ticket while they were moving their vehicles into our driveway. My son tried to talk to her and she said "sorry, go appeal it". Appealing does nothing, they add another charge.

We should be encouraging alternate transportation, like bikes, not trying to snag more money, taxes and fees from them. If you want more of it, then do not tax it. If you want more people to use public transportation, then make it work, be more cost effective and advantagous to use. Don't make it bloated, dirty, dangerous, and more expensive and inconvenient. Simple rules that make sense.

Giving more tax money to the current system that is already broke is not a solution to anything. This state and the federal government are not lacking enough tax dollars, they are lacking a workable process and oversight. It is not about too little money coming in, it is about too much being spent and wasted.

Karl-- your comment:

"...not the same as previous immigrants..not elegible for welfare, in state tuition, free health care at emergency rooms, and had to be sponsored..demonstrate a skill or trade."

My parents were immigrants of N.Italy. Dad came over during the depression when his family was starving in WWII. Mom arrived in the 50's.

THERE WERE JOBS...HELLO, that is the difference..in old days, they would find work....dad a chef at Parker House. Mom worked in housekeeping at a college for over 25 yrs, was not a citizen for many yrs, then became one. It did not matter back then, because THERE WERE JOBS!

Ever since Bush started slashing U.S.jobs--to "outsourcing", people were forced to rely heavily on credit cards, home equity, kids in college, retirement fund not enough, cost of living skyrockets, millions without healthcare, hospitals take their homes. I swear, it sounds like some of you people have been living under a rock. Don't you get it?

They have intentionally created civil unrest because no one is watching what they do--you are all so busy blaming the wrong people--watching the welfare mothers who are trying to feed their kids--not all scam artists. Education & opportunities LACK for many of these families-Immigration issues are complicated-Explain this- if an undocumented person opens a checking acct, but an American has to get fingerprinted to cash a check of person/business which holds acct. at bank, with proper ID--what's wrong with this picture?

Karl--In response...."Those who hire illegal immigrants should be arrested.. do time in jail....There needs to be a reasonable way for an employer to be able to know if a person is legal to work or not. You mentioned you have family that owns businesses like this. Do they pay all these taxes, issue insurance, and hire illegals"?

My family does not hire undocumented persons. Yes, they pay taxes, etc. don't risk liabilities. There are now heavy fines being implemented if an employer is CAUGHT (key word here) hiring undocumented persons.

Yes, there are ways they can check if a person is undocumented, but they choose not to, can you guess why?

There are about 100 reasons and all of them have to do with the exploitation of a human being and PROFITS.

Someone I know, licensed for his trade, works for contractors who hire undocumented workers. I have heard the stories he doesn't like the way these people get treated. They are people just like the rest of us, but because others do not understand their culture, it does not make them less human. It's govts that can be bad, not the people of the countries. If you talk with some of the immigrants, you can learn a lot about what they go through trying to stay in this country. I'm not condoning those who commit crimes, there are many who don't, but have no choice but to remain caught up in a system that has no right way of making it work for everyone. That's how they get away with it--they create CIVIL UNREST among all people.

Karl,

When did I ever say that a Volvo was an American Car? That is the reason I am driving it--because it's not the junk produced by the American Auto Industry. You know those CEO's who went crying down to DC asking for bailouts. You remember it don't you? Here, I will refresh your memory--

By the way, it wasn't bad enough they sank their businesses into the gutter, but they laid off millions while taking their corporate jets at $20k for fuel to get there. Like the first class wasn't enough?

Germany makes a far superb vehicle and it's 2000, not the crappy Ford version in their new models. I will continue to buy foreign and older models because they were built to last, not built to break so we can milk you for the next 10 years!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WKUO6pGqIk

Karl,

How about those corporate jets?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsNcBMxHt00&feature=related

Here's another one, Karl.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-RQfoW1lZs

Just for the record: first car, escort, second car blazer, third, yukon, fourth, saab, most recent volvo 2000'. All but last two were not good vehicles--sure, parts are cheaper, but so IS the vehicle. After watching these videos of grilling by congress and closer inspection of the top heavy corp's ceo's and their main objective...it's very clear, they continued to make cars which were non-competitive to our foreign trade--as well as not making them by standards of "going green", reducing emissions. There are millions of Americans who drive Honda/Toyota's, there are obvious reasons. There should also be apparent reasons as to why the American Auto Industry has been sticking by their gas hogs. Can you guess why this is, or would you like me to explain it. Watch, "Who killed the electric car?". There is another clue.

Meant, I prefer my Volvo to Any American Made Car. Reading comprehension, I thought that was clear the way I wrote it. Someone's father once worked with Ford, he held the keys to the treasury. Do you know who might be? Same guy who bailed out his buddies firm. Goodnight

....as well as a TRUE TAX EVADER.

By what authority can Bush or any other president outsource private sector jobs? This is a canard.

Licenses for bicyclists.