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Are highway tolls the answer to Connecticut's money problems?

Yes

by Fegger

I think it would be erroneous to believe that one tax format being created or, in this case, resurrected would stand as the "cure-all to the state's revenue shortages. I have always respected the simplicity of toll booths inasmuch as they are, without possible argument, the most defined "pay for service" tax ever created. Passage of a vehicle, whether a state resident or not, simply cannot be denied; and should one have the resources to engage a savvy accountant or tax attorney, the tax debt is still in accord with those who have no such resource.

I may only think of two possible, realistic objections to the reintegration of the toll system in Connecticut. One would be a matter of commuter congestion at the booth, shortly prior to, and shortly beyond said booth. In response to this I would merely state that I would have trust in our civil engineers and traffic gurus who have fantastic negative examples at Connecticut borders. Analyze these toll stations; and make necessary improvements to the model(s) accordingly. The second anticipated objection would be for the daily commuter, likely to New York, who would invest a tidy sum annually toward reparations of the state's infrastructure; and a "share" of tax that he/she would unlikely feel is equally supported by the populous. To this individual, I would offer a cut-rate or partially subsidized EX-PASS (or something equivalent) that was encoded to be accepted at the booth(s) that he/she would traverse on a daily basis. It also may be suggested that their employer be encouraged to participate in subsidizing such a purchase in lieu of a valued employee; and I believe that it's possible to negotiate such an arrangement.

Realistically, as stated in the very first sentence of this argument, this one tax will not be adequate in and of itself. I believe that it is relative and it will divert funds previously allocated for infrastructure to be utilized elsewhere; and that, by design, it's being partially subsidized by "out-of-staters" who come to enjoy our state-which is not disagreeable in the least. If all taxes that were mandated in Connecticut, or in this country, were as universally fair and just then it is clear to me that toll booths would probably be completely unnecessary throughout these United States.

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