An Alternative to the Auto Tax
VICTORIA: At a news conference today in Richmond, the BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) proposed alternative measures to fund improvements to greater Vancouver's road and transit system.
"The member cities of the Greater Vancouver Regional District spend, annually, over $2 billion in operating and capital expenditures," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke. Tax revenue from an auto tax is forecast at $95.4 million in 2002, (the first full year of collection). "A 4.6 percent diversion in existing spending could make the auto tax unnecessary."
"Most families could find four or five percent in their own budgets, and in fact - most have done at least that as taxes rose over the past three decades," noted Milke. "It is more than reasonable to ask civic politicians to find budget room to avoid another tax - this time on drivers."
On another revenue scenario, the CTF noted that if federal and provincial governments each transferred 1.5 cents of their existing fuel tax 'room,' $65 million would be available for greater Vancouver road and transit improvements - about two-thirds of what TransLink wants from an auto tax.
"Once the province stops adding to the debt - transferring another cent and a half beyond existing plans would also enable GVRD motorists to avoid an auto tax," said Milke.
The CTF also called for two votes - one on the Auto Tax and one on the TransLink board of directors. "If TransLink wants a new tax - voters should have the final word," stated Milke. "In addition, by 2004,
TransLink will collect and spend over $800 million annually - more than any one city in greater Vancouver. Voters must have a direct say in who spends that much money."
The CTF encourages greater Vancouver taxpayers to sign the "Axe The Auto Tax" petition at www.taxpayer.com. 15,000 names have been collected so far. The petition will shortly be forwarded to TransLink chair George Puil. For those citizens who want to contact municipal, provincial, and federal politicians, contact information is also available on the website.
