[Mpls] Bus service cuts and fare hikes

[David Greene]

WLDJ36 at aol.com wrote:
> For a "stable"  or "dedicated" transit funding source, some  legislators are 
> talking about removing the sales tax exemption for gasoline and  dedicating 
> that money to transit.

That will help, but we need to generate $360 million of new money
annually to build our our metro and greater Minnesota public
transportation systems.  An MVST shift and half-cent sales tax in the
seven-county region will do that.  The bills are already on the table.
Our legislators and governor just have to choose between building out
the system or letting chronic shortfalls destroy it.  It really is that
simple.  That's why they need to hear from _you_.  Right _now_.

I appreciated Gary's question about whether we are complaining
consumers or engaged public citizens.  I made a choice eight months
ago to be the latter.  Ordinary citizens like you and me _do_
have a voice.  But we have to choose to be courageous enough to use
it.

Given the constitutional dedication of the gas tax to highways, I
don't see an indexed gas tax as a very effective way to fund public
transportation.  I don't claim to be a policy expert, though, so
I'll defer to others for a more thorough analysis.

David Greene
The Wedge