Nashville Area Mass Transit Funding

[Guest]

I have spent many hours examining Mass Transit solutions around the country and I have not been able to find one that is self-sufficient. It is my conclusion that any state / municipal body that truly wants to implement a comprehensive Mass Transit System will have to coalesce funding from many diverse sources...including raising taxes. The model I see for Nashville (please remember I am only a layman at this) id Portland, Oregon's TriMet System www.trimet.org/index.shtml.

They have a payroll tax subsidy in place that takes $6.318 per $1,000 of payroll. So basically if you make $100K your tax would be $631.80 per annum. This seems like a bargain and I think you can deduct the amount from Fed Taxes.

I am as anti-tax as anyone but when I read about the economic and environmental benefits Portland has experienced I am ready to ante up.

Thoughts??

[it's just dave]

I think payroll/income tax, within reason could be the answer to many, many problems we face. I'm also in support of a moderate wheel tax for commuters coming into Nashville daily...nothing huge, but something contributory.

[nashvol85]

Raising taxes aren't always the way to go...it would be nice if the problem could be solved another way (restructure the tax system).

We already have a nearly 10% sales tax, and I'll be damned if I have to start paying a state income tax...

[Onyte9]

^ I agree. I'm all taxed out. Between income tax, property tax, food tax and beer tax it kills my little paycheck. I do agree that restructuring would be the way to go.

[Guest]

Reworking the current tax structure was my first thought as well, I would love to raid the road funds but I think that would be harder than new revenue sources. The road builders are one of the toughest lobbies on the hill.

[sleepy]

I don't have a clue how transit should be funded. The feds have cut back from 80% to 50%.

TN's tax structure isn't the best, and needs some reworking. How, I don't know, but it's considered pretty regressive as is.

Maybe gambling's the salvation . But I have a hard time envisioning voters statewide voting for it to fund LRT in Memphis and Nashville.

Btw--Portland's a great city, but economically it's not been doing particularly well for awhile. Not that its transit system caused that.

[nashvol85]

Reworking the current tax structure was my first thought as well, I would love to raid the road funds but I think that would be harder than new revenue sources. The road builders are one of the toughest lobbies on the hill.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, because if you raise the gas tax, the road lobby will be pissed that some of the funds are being diverted.

I like the current system...but maybe mass transit (for all Tennessee cities/counties) should be under the same funding umbrella as roads (the gas tax).