Poll: Should EZ-Pass Get a Tax Break?
State Rep. Stephen Ucci (D-Johnston, Cranston) has proposed a bill to give holders of EZ-Pass accounts a tax credit — what do you think?
Photos
A Johnston legislator has proposed a tax credit to EZ-Pass account holders who use the electronic payment system to cross the Newport Bridge.
Rep. Stephen R. Ucci (D-Johnston, Cranston) said in a press release that the bill is meant to help drivers recover some of the cost of using the Newport Bridge.
"It’s an added expense to have to travel across a toll bridge constantly," Ucci explained. "Some of these folks have to use their EZ-Pass five days per week just to get to and from work. In this economy, everyone needs a little extra assistance and this specific population of people is getting hammered with fees."
According to the Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority website, Rhode Island residents pay $25 to activate an account and up to $33 for a transponder that charges the account 83 cents each trip to cross the bridge. Members add funds to the account every six weeks according to use.
The EZ-Pass system netted RIBTA about $11 million during fiscal 2011, about 60 percent of its overall toll collections, according to the authority's 2011 financial statements.
In February, RIBTA's board voted to increase the cash (non-EZ-Pass) toll to $5 per vehicle and the EZ-Pass fee to $1 beginning July 1, Newport Patch reported.
Ucci's bill is co-sponsored by several representatives from towns near the Bridge, including Reps. Peter Martin (D-Newport), Deborah Ruggiero (D-Jamestown, Middletown), J. Russell Jackson (D-Newport, Middletown), and Richard P. Morrison (D-Bristol, Warren).
The proposal has been referred to the House Finance Committee for a hearing to be scheduled.
What do you think?
Is Ucci's bill a good idea? Do you think drivers who regularly use EZ-Pass on the Newport Bridge should get something back at the end of the year?
Or do you think that the state just can't afford to pay those drivers back?
Cast your vote in our poll below, and sound off by posting your comments.
East side
4:20 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Keep the state out of it as this is an attempt for them to come in regulate and/or take control of the bridge authority. Currently, the revenue the bridge authority takes in is kept for their use. lets keep it that way. Also, what would the tax credit encourage...more visitors/employment/etc? I'm not sure what the benfit is here?
Jack Baillargeron
10:49 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Yea why not, the majority of taxayers who do not use the bridge or very little, just love paying the extra for others to use it. This is after all RI, where 78 years of super majority Control of the State by the Democratic party, has shown "the Government knows best" lol.
Lastest estimate of when RI, will come out of current economic slump. (shhhhh we don't call it a recession here, least the DEM pres look bad), is 2027 according to Forbes (but but but thats a conservative rag lol). Sorry my bad also State actuaries number lol. (but but but, we have an independent Governor Chaffee), yea thats as good an excuse as having Suzy Chapstick as governor. Think about it, and you will get it lol.
Andre
8:17 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
A little history. The Newport Bridge opened in 1969. Toll: $1.00 per axel. Tokens cost $10.00 per 10 tokens, or $1.00. Later the cost was $10.00 for 10 tokens and a free passage. Cost: 91 cents. Then sixty tokens were offered for $50.00. Cost: 83 cents. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of living today is 6 times what it was in 1969. On average, what cost $1.00 then costs $6.00 now. Or to put it another way, if the cost of passage goes back to $1.00, where is was 33 years ago, you would have to forego buying something that, at that time, cost 17 cents. One thing you could buy back then for 17 cents was a little less than half a gallon of gas. You could buy a stamp for a nickel and a loaf of bread for a little over 20 cents. A gallon of heating oil was probably a little more than 20 cents.
Will Museler
8:33 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
How is Mr. Ucci going to pay for these tax credits?
Natasha van Doren
10:47 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Not everyone has an EZ Pass. You are only paying .83 if you do have one. How about people who borrow someone's car and then have to pay 8.00? These are the ones that should get a break.