There are many facets to the issues raised in the June 4 editorial “Infrastructure a taxing issue.” Our Washington state Legislature had a borrowing binge this past decade, buying transportation on a credit card. The result — 70 percent of state gas taxes pay off debt.
The Washington state Department of Transportation continues to mismanage projects. They paid triple prices for ferries; some estimate a wasted $400 million in repairs on WSDOT-designed cracked 520 bridge pontoons. How much will be lost on Seattle’s “Big Bertha”? Local citizens are well aware of $200 million wasted on our “$50 million maximum” Columbia River Crossing contract.
Our gas tax began at a penny in 1921. It currently is 37.5 cents, among the nation’s highest. Adjusted for inflation, that penny would be 13.2 cents today; and our 12 cent 1982 tax would be 29.5 cents. Our gas tax “rate” kept up with inflation until the spending spree, which began in 2003.
Look at WSDOT’s revenues. The 1991-93 budget was $1.15 billion. The 2013-15 budget allocated WSDOT $2.95 billion — almost triple! Clearly, funds entrusted to WSDOT outpaced inflation.
