Edward J. Staley: Tax, tax, tax – there’s never enough, is there
Re “Road repairs hit by dwindling gas taxes” (Page 1A, April 15): Are you on the road to pay your taxes today? I am. And I open The Bee to the headline, “Road repairs hit by dwindling gas taxes.” The public works director is complaining about the lack of money to fix the roads to a receptive Bee reporter. Strange isn’t it, they only complain when the gas prices are affordable but never a story how money is pouring in when the oil companies appear to be gouging us.
Gas has been low for about four months, but it was sky high for about five years! We are told the state tax on gasoline has remained at 42 cents a gallon for 22 years by The Bee. I see the story is actually a complaint that he must lay off six people, not a complaint that there is no money for macadam, concrete, slurry or oil used for repairs. I agree our roads are in disrepair. Do administrators advocate higher taxes because there aren’t enough people to pass paper around the office? Where is the justice for the taxpayer?
Edward J. Staley, Modesto
This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 12:18 PM with the headline "Edward J. Staley: Tax, tax, tax – there’s never enough, is there."