Letter to the Editor: Gas taxes should go to roads, not walking paths

Is money from the gas tax to fund a walking path in Jasper really an appropriate use?

I would think not.

The reason why is simple. Money collected from taxes on gas and well pretty much anything that has to do with driving is meant to be spent on the upkeep of our nations roads.

End of story.

You are taxed a lot. You’re taxed when you buy gas, you’re taxed when you buy a car, you’re taxed when you register your vehicles etc etc. On top of that, commercial trucks are taxed for every mile they drive through the state.

With all that tax money coming in, you would think there would be enough to fund all the road maintenance and the building of new roads and bridges. But, for some reason, state and federal departments of transportation are always complaining about how they don’t have enough money and how taxes need to be raised on previously mentioned items. But if they have enough money to fund a walking path here in Jasper, then how can they say they don’t have enough money to fund the projects the money was meant to fund?

Its a conundrum I know. I mean, the simplicity of the logic is mind blowing. In my opinion, and from what I heard from others is that that money acquired through the vehicle related taxes should only be used on things its meant to be used on.

If the good citizens of Jasper really want an extension to the Riverwalk, then the issue should have been brought up on a vote and the funds for this project should be from local sources. A local tax, public donations, a bond… all good methods of funding small projects like this.

I have this strange suspicion that the real driving force behind this Pork Barrel spending is just so some politician can say, “hey look what I gave to Jasper, vote for me”.

Lets have the extension, but lets do it the right way.
Dave Nealy
Jasper, IN