By Joni Quinn
Gov. Deval Patrick visited Haverhill Public Library last week to pitch a 19 cent-a-gallon gasoline tax increase. More than 200 area residents gathered to hear the governor's explanation.
Patrick said Massachusetts' aging system of roads and public transportation needs about $19 billion in repairs, which cost the state's drivers $718 million a year on car repairs.
The tax increase, he said, will help eliminate that expense.
"An option we don't have is to do nothing. We need to confront this and together figure out the best way to confront it," Patrick told the upset crowd.
Many residents expressed concern regarding the fact that many Massachusetts residents are already going over the state line to purchase gas in New Hampshire and that this hike will hurt business even more.
"We are pushing people out and pushing our revenues out with them. If people are going across the border for gas, they're going to start going over for their groceries, electronics and other needs," Sam Ameen Jr. of Haverhill said.
Patrick said if such a dramatic change is noted, something can be done to address the situation.
"Nobody is pretending that if people move that things aren't going to change but there is a clear choice. We can do something about it or we can chose as a commonwealth to put up with the shoddy system we have now," Patrick said.
Others said they are already sacrificing enough and can't be hit with any more tax increases, especially when it feels as though they are the only ones suffering.
"It's hard to make even more sacrifices when it's not overtly seen that the government is as well. We are just getting by on what we have now and there's only so much anyone can give," Julie Sullivan of Haverhill said.
Mary Phennicie of Haverhill, whose son attends the University of Massachusetts Lowell, said he moved to Lowell because he couldn't afford the gas he used to commute from Haverhill.
"Tuition is already going up and if gas goes up, to how are people going to be able to pay for an education? We are pricing people out of college," Phennicie said.
City Councilor Michael McGonagle said if the gas tax is raised, he wants assurance that Patrick will do everything in his power to make sure the revenue goes to transportation and nothing else. He said that in the past, gas tax revenue has ended up in the state's general fund.
Patrick said he would not allow the revenue to go elsewhere.
According to Patrick's proposal, without the gas tax increase we will continue to burden future generations with massive debt. Unless the debt is paid down at the Turnpike and MBTA, we will see cuts in service and toll and fare increases that will sacrifice the state's ability to fuel economic growth with a strong transportation system.
The gas tax increase also makes unprecedented investments in road, bridges and rail outside Greater Boston possible, according to the proposal.
Where the 19 cents would go
4 cents: Roll back the toll increases on the Massachusetts Turnpike and the tunnels
6 cents: Maintain current MBTA services and avoid increases over the next few years
1.5 cents: Regional transit authorities
1.5 cents: Targeted regional road projects
3 cents: Southern, western and northern rail projects
1 cent: Innovative gas and toll solutions
2 cents: Begin to stop the costly practice of paying for transportation personnel from capital funds
