More taxes are not the answer: Fiscal responsibility is

I am writing in opposition the proposed tolls in Connecticut.

As an active voter and taxpayer, I am adamantly against any commuter tolls in Connecticut. These bills have been introduced to alleviate the state’s burden of not having enough money in the budget for road maintenance. Given the state’s complete mismanagement of funds in years past, how can we be sure that this money will be used for road maintenance?

More importantly, we as residents simply cannot afford it. We have the highest gas tax in the country, which was presumably set to fund road maintenance in Connecticut. Where has all of this money gone? It is estimated the average driver will spend $5 to $6 each day, one way, to travel between New Haven and NYC daily. A majority of people on this stretch of road are commuters and must travel to work into NYC. This will add an expense of more than $3,000 annually to already cash strapped residents and commuters.

As a proposed train fare increase is also in the works, taking the train as an option does not alleviate the financial stress (+$50/month New Haven — NYC). Not to mention this will also deter out-of-state residents to coming into Connecticut to visit our parks, beaches and casinos to generate additional revenue that we so badly need.

In fact, it seems every project designed to contribute to our roads has been mismanaged. Malloy’s nightmare of a project — Connecticut Railway — has spent $567 million in the last seven years, for a project that costs $17.5 million to operate and only brings in $4.2 millionfor a lower than projected number of riders. Malloy and the state Department of Transportation also unveiled a 30-year, $100 billion “Let’s Go Ct” initiative, aimed at improving our roads and infrastructure in 2015. The goal of which is “A comprehensive, long-term solution to fix the consequences of deferred maintenance of the transportation infrastructure”. Where has this money gone? In addition, states legislators are overlooking other viable options to bring in revenue such as the legalization of recreational marijuana and to tax the related recreational sales. NY and NJ are both looking to legalize and MA will be legal by summer 2018. We will quickly become the only state surrounded by legal recreational use states.

Consequently, we can watch that potential revenue fly out the window, into other state’s pockets — which could be upwards of $70 million in the first year alone. Connecticut already has the infrastructure in place for medical marijuana. Recreational legalization could potentially add revenue to the DOT and to education, which is so badly needed.

With restrictions (over 21, limits to purchase amount) legalizing recreational marijuana may be the only thing that can save this cash-strapped state and alleviate some of the public’s tax burden. And the majority of public support it.

We are tired of mismanaged funds at the state level. People are leaving Connecticut in droves simply because the cost of living is higher than most (fourth highest “move out” rate in the country). More taxes are not the answer. Fiscal responsibility is the answer.

Elected officials are elected by we, the people, to represent what we want. The majority of Connecticut residents seem vehemently opposed to the tolls. So why are the elected officials, who supposedly act on our behalf, backing this? I implore elected officials to listen to your constituents and please vote no on these bills.