Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Enact Taxes Now, We’ll Pay You Later!
It sounds like one of those commercials promising a “buy now, pay later” option. The County Executive’s budget message calls for enactment of new taxes on drinks and car rentals for mass transit, yet the Port Authority isn’t supposed to get the money until fundamental changes are made.
“If the drink tax [and car rental tax] passes we will not give a penny of it to Port Authority until they get rid of their outrageous benefits”. That’s akin to buying a bright new shiny toy for a toddler, letting him know that the toy is in the closet within reach, but not giving it to him until he changes his behavior. It would be better to leave the toy on the shelf in the store.
Let’s face it—this plan does not work. Why not get the changes from the Port Authority, either when the contract is negotiated in June or before that if there is a reopener, see the results, and then decide whether there is even a need for new taxes? Perhaps getting rid of benefits, retirement after 25 years, and a freeze on hiring and wages will eliminate the need for making it more expensive to drink or rent a car in the County.
And how will the union guarantee they won’t go on strike when the contract is up? By shutting down the system and crippling transit, that puts pressure on the PAT board for a settlement and an even quicker disbursement of the stockpiled funds. Let’s face it: the egregious benefits and behavior at the Port Authority has yet to jeopardize the County’s annual $25 million check written from property tax receipts, so why would this be any different?
“If the drink tax [and car rental tax] passes we will not give a penny of it to Port Authority until they get rid of their outrageous benefits”. That’s akin to buying a bright new shiny toy for a toddler, letting him know that the toy is in the closet within reach, but not giving it to him until he changes his behavior. It would be better to leave the toy on the shelf in the store.
Let’s face it—this plan does not work. Why not get the changes from the Port Authority, either when the contract is negotiated in June or before that if there is a reopener, see the results, and then decide whether there is even a need for new taxes? Perhaps getting rid of benefits, retirement after 25 years, and a freeze on hiring and wages will eliminate the need for making it more expensive to drink or rent a car in the County.
And how will the union guarantee they won’t go on strike when the contract is up? By shutting down the system and crippling transit, that puts pressure on the PAT board for a settlement and an even quicker disbursement of the stockpiled funds. Let’s face it: the egregious benefits and behavior at the Port Authority has yet to jeopardize the County’s annual $25 million check written from property tax receipts, so why would this be any different?
