By Jan Angel
Did you know that 30 percent of the transportation budget is taken up by cost overruns? From Bertha stuck under Seattle to the cracked pontoons for the new 520 bridge to ferry construction issues, we’ve seen major problems and cost overruns on the state’s major projects, creating hundreds of millions in additional money required to finish these projects. Despite this, legislators here are moving forward on proposals to increase the gas tax by as much at 12.5 cents per gallon.
Our state’s roads and bridges may be in need of fixes and repair, but the system that provides for these is in even greater need of repair. We must be sure we are maximizing current tax revenue before having conversations about increasing the gas tax. I believe we haven’t done our homework.
That’s why my motto when it comes to the transportation budget is: Fix it before you fund it.
There are countless reforms and improvements that would drive down the cost of projects and deliver major savings with which we can fund and complete many of the proposed projects.
This is just my short list of transportation reform priorities I feel we should be considering:
1. Sales tax paid on material used in road projects is currently directed to the state General Fund (over $400 million). This should go to transportation.
2. Sales tax on new and used vehicles goes to the General Fund–even a percentage could go to transportation. Roads are made for cars and cars are made for roads.
3. $40 million annually goes to deal with polluted stormwater runoff. Why isn’t this addressed from the account set up to address polluted water (Environment Legacy Stewardship Account) rather than the transportation budget?
4. Give local areas options to create area specific funding that meets their local needs by a vote of the people in that area. Don’t create a state level tax to fund local transit services.
5. Create Public Private Partnership Process and Procedures to give certainty and reliability to local developers willing to invest in transportation.
6. Allowing “Competitive Bidding” for regular highway maintenance could boost the budget by $25 million per year based on a WSDOT audit and results in other states such as Massachusetts and Virginia.
7. “Prevailing Wage” law artificially drives up the cost of public roads. We need to clearly establish what are fair market wages.
8. Gas tax kick-backs to tribes should be reviewed.
9. Performance audits by an independent authority are sorely needed to ensure transportation dollars are spent legally and efficiently.
If we could get serious action on even four or five of these items, we could be delivering significant savings and showing voters that we are serious about being accountable for the transportation budget. Until we ensure we are getting the most bang for our buck, I don’t think it is time to consider a major gas tax increase. Can you imagine how much you would lose if your gas tank leaked as much as our transportation system wasted money? It’s the same with our budget: we shouldn’t be pouring more in if we know a huge portion will be wasted.
Once a transportation tax package is passed, all pressure to reform the system will evaporate. This is our chance to change the course of our transportation finances. It’s time we stop measuring our investment in transportation in terms of money put into the system and start measuring in terms of relieving congestion, sparking economic development, and keeping people moving. We need to buy results with our transportation dollars, not just dole out money. You can count on me to be watching closely to make sure your tax dollars are protected and well-spent throughout the negotiations this year.
Sen. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, is in her fourth term representing the 26th District, which includes portions of Pierce and Kitsap counties.
