Funding Public Programs Without Raising Taxes: Roads and Bridges
California has fallen into a morass of chronic budget deficits and political paralysis. The deficit has now exploded to $14 billion for the coming fiscal year. In the face of this budgetary imbalance, California politicians argue back and forth about the best remedy for the problem. Some lawmakers want to use tax and fee adjustments to help close the gap. Others adamantly oppose tax increases of any kind, and want to close the deficit entirely through spending cuts. Sound familiar?
California law requires a balanced budget which must be approved by two thirds of the legislature. And several complicated voter approved funding mandates severely limit the legislature’s ability to cut spending. As a result, we get budgets held together with accounting gimmicks and bond measures.
A host of factors, including the sharp downturn in the housing market and an expensive disaster season, have left the budget in particularly bad shape this year. And while politicians bicker, our infrastructure crumbles around us. The state government needs to find ways of paying for public improvements without raising taxes.
Some municipalities raise money by selling the naming rights to sports complexes. Private organizations like to associate their products with recognizable landmarks. This helps to create brand recognition. It follows that private groups would probably like to have their names associated with major bridges and freeways as well. Would commuters really care if they drove to work on Yahoo Freeway or Monster Avenue instead of I-5 or 680?
Local companies could point to a freshly paved freeway with their name on it as tangible proof of their investment in the community. Roads and bridges are underutilized public assets.
California, budget, deficit, taxes, roads, bridges
January 27th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Hmmm, I have to think about this, “Kotex Bridge,” “Chucky Chesse Recycle Center,” “Petco I-69″ hmmm
January 30th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I vote for Trojan Reservoir Bridge. Then you’d know you were safe.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Or at least 99.8% safe.