VOTING on TUESDAY!!! Affects State MX

[hrlyman]

Proposition #91 on the ballot this voting season has an effect on MOTOCROSS in our state. Read your primary election guide carefully. And PLEASE GO VOTE!!!!

In its basic form its states:
Prohibits certain motor vehicle fuel taxes from being retained in the general fund and delays repayment of such taxes previously retained. Changes how and when genral fund borrowing of certain transportation funds is allowed.

(These are the federal funds that allow for trails and off road riding areas to be able to fund their required repairs and such that we have seen in Foresthill, Eldorado, and Southern areas)

You have to really read the fine print here because Voting YES or NO is confusing.

A YES vote means; the state would no longer be able to 'suspend' the transfer of gas tax revenues from the general fund to transportation. but it also states that it would be able to 'loan'specified transportation funds to the general fund for essentially short-term cash flow purposes. (Is this confusing to anyone else????)

A NO vote means; The state would still be able to suspend, under certain conditions, the transfer of gas tax revenuesn from the general fund to transportation. Addtionally the state would continue to be able to loan specified transportation funds to the general fundfor up to three fiscal years.... (Ok so whats the difference?)


Thanks

[CharlieS]

The way I read the voter information guide----
It say the roads and highways are deteriorating because the Legislature keeps deverting the gas and diesel tax that is supposed to build and repair roads to the general fund.

It says a yes vote will keep the gas and diesel tax to be used as intended. Building/repairing roads, and mass transportation.

It does allow them to borrow from the gas tax fund to fund the General fund, but they must pay it back in the same fiscal year.

It allows them to pay back previous loans to the General Fund from the gas tax fund over a longer period, since they have borrowed too much to pay back right away. They have until 2017 to pay this back, but must pay at least 1/10 of the total amount owed each year.

This proposition also spells out that 20% of the tax will go to fund Public and Mass Transit, 40% to fund Capital improvement projects (new roads), 20% to Cities for street maintenance, rehab, storm damage, 20% to Countys for street maintenance, rehab, storm damage.

I am not sure this will affect the OHV fund at all, except the Ohv Fund does get a portion of gas tax they figure is used for off highway travel.

It sound like this proposition is just keeping them from taking gas taxes and using it for things other than its taxed purpose.
I am going to study it more, but right now I am leaning towards "yes"
Feel free to convince me otherwise.

[hrlyman]

Here's some more info; I called my peeps (in high places) and this is what they have told me, (in laymens terms)

In 2006 we voted on Prop 1A as you all may remember which locked down the "stealing" of our TRANSPORTAION FUNDS by legislators to place into 'their' General Fund (for any use they decide). They were able to still borrow money for short term uses but legislated that it had to be paid back within 30 days.

This NEW Proposition being brought by petition of signatures of the legislature will allow them to again transfer certain revenues from the TRANSPORTATION FUND and extend the loan repayment time. They have already borrowed more than $670 million dollars from this fund which they are to pay back by 2016. This prop will extend that repayment time to 2017.

The proponents of Prop 1A are asking for a "NO" vote because they say all of the terms protecting the Transportation Fund are already in place in that amendment that passed in 2006 by an overwhelming majority (77%)
This is simply another prop by legislators to try and regain their control of mismanagement of funds.... basically robbing Peter to pay Paul mentality of governing.

Now that I understand what the legislators want from this... Im voting NO