Frank A. Ramczyk: Can you spare 50 cents for our roads? Of course you can

We have a chance to improve our roads and rides in Stanislaus County. Anyone who has used the roads knows they are rapidly crumbling. They can’t fix themselves.

We need to approve this half-percent sales tax increase to fix our streets now and to build new ones. Detractors say the tax is unneeded and too costly. They are wrong. My road slogan is “50 cents.” This is what it will cost you when you spend $100.

Detractors say it’s too much for our seniors and those on fixed incomes. Let’s take a look at their argument. First, food will not be taxed, so there goes a large part of a senior citizen’s income exempted. Second, it will not be a tax on rent or mortgage payments, so another large part of their income is exempted. What about a car payment? Not taxed either. So it looks like only a small part of a senior citizen’s income will be taxed. Fifty cents!

Think about it. Who can’t afford 50 cents on $100? You can’t even buy a candy bar for that! Just look one county north to see how a road tax has been beneficial. So for all those who think only of themselves, and worry about paying too much in taxes, I say 50 cents. Vote for this transportation tax. We need it. Fifty cents!

This story was originally published October 24, 2016 at 6:20 PM with the headline "Frank A. Ramczyk: Can you spare 50 cents for our roads? Of course you can."