New taxes in 2017 for Pa ..

[Larry Schramm]

Michigan also jumped the gas tax 7 cents/gallon and increased the registration fees 20% as of January 1, 2017.

[Joe in Canada]

Our gas went up 14.7 cents a gal Jan. 1 and they are calling it a carbon tax.

 

[Guest Skyking]

On 1/11/2017 at 10:53 AM, TerryB said:

The downside of better fuel economy is less gas tax for states.  The really bad news for drivers is the fuel tax to fix roads winds up funding too many other projects that don't fix highways. The PA turnpike fees used to just be used for turnpike maintenance, now it's used as a cash cow to fund other road projects and who knows what else.  A tax based on miles driven per year can't be too far off in the future.

 

Terry

 

In RI most of all the gas tax goes into the general fund which in turn ends up funding state pensions and other nonsense that never benefits the general public. It certainly doesn't go into our roads which is very obvious to anyone breathing........

[TerryB]

The more frustrating aspect of gas prices for me is the endless reasons for pump price change.  Market speculation takes over and prices will change three or four times a day.  Upward prices seem to happen a lot faster than downward ones.  Avoiding that madness gives a score in the plus column for E powered autos.

 

As noted here by others we are no where near the cost or taxes paid by other countries so we have it pretty good here in the US.

 

Terry

[Plyroadking]

On 1/11/2017 at 9:53 AM, TerryB said:

 

On 1/11/2017 at 1:29 PM, Restorer32 said:

What about those Amish? They use the roads and pay zero gas taxes. No registration or inspection fees on their buggies either. (Written tongue in cheek,  I very much respect the Amish. We have several Amish suppliers.)

And what about the bicycles we're supposed to "share the road" with? 

[charlier]

On 1/11/2017 at 5:48 PM, John_S_in_Penna said:

 

No wonder people tend to loathe politicians!

 

As an engineer, I have some insight into roads and bridges.

In the 1990's, I inspected dozens of smaller bridges in the county system.

 

John,

 

Thank you for sharing your insights into roads and bridges.

 

Sadly, where I live we have some truly  "crumbling" and structurally "deficient" bridges.

Three bridges in particular(of 18 total bridges) that are all in a five mile stretch of highway carry 60,000+ vehicles each day.

These three bridges and most of the other 15 were all built in 1963.

One literally was crumbling when in a 6 week timespan pieces of the bridge deck literally fell out the bottom of the bridge TWICE leaving holes in the bridge and big pieces of concrete on the road under the bridge. Several vehicles were damaged when they hit the holes in the bridge and the exposed metal rebar.

For the last 9 years all these bridges and some of the other 15 bridges are inspected at least twice a year.

 

Last summer PennDOT presented a plan to replace all 18 bridges, expand the number of lanes and make safety improvements. The projected cost is at least 550 million. PennDOT figures it won't be ready to start soliciting construction bids until at least 2022 and the project will take one or more DECADES to complete since the cost has to be spread out. Due to the fact that PennDOT's yearly budget for the entire county is only 70 million dollars.

 

This is just one example of why PennDOT cannot afford to have 800 Million dollars per year redirected to other state agencies just because legislators in Harrisburg lack the political courage and guts to fund those agencies properly.  

[nick8086]

The state of Nebraska will implement another round of fuel tax increases the first of the year. The change marks the second of a four-step increase over four years. The state’s 26.7-cent-per-gallon gas tax and 26.1-cent diesel rate will increase by 1.5 cents. Additional 1.5-cent increases will kick in each year through January 2019.

 

Not just one year - you will feel it until 2019..

 

This is sad to read also.:

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/70-years-old-180k-student-180000747.html

 

Edited January 13, 2017 by nick8086 (see edit history)

[mercer09]

In NJ we were just raised 23 cents a gallon by donut boy!

 

We had some of the lowest gas prices in the country. Not anymore....................

 

not much to love about Jersey!

 

(except maybe a Wawa on every corner).

[Guest Skyking]

1 hour ago, mercer09 said:

In NJ we were just raised 23 cents a gallon by donut boy!

 

We had some of the lowest gas prices in the country. Not anymore....................

 

not much to love about Jersey!

 

(except maybe a Wawa on every corner).

Maybe most of that money goes to attendance at the pump they don't need.

[60FlatTop]

I fill my gas tank more frequently now than I did when gas cost $0.29 per gallon. Looking at increasing costs and taxes for the coming year should raise the question "How can I make myself more valuable and get more money?"

We are about 300 hours into 2017. Have you used the time wisely?

Bernie

[joe_padavano]

An appropriate comic in today's paper...

 

https://www.arcamax.com/thefunnies/curtis/s-1912682

[cahartley]

Here in Wisconsin the toll thing is back on the front burner....... 

I don't know how much money my state spent studying this thing to death a few years ago (and it was PLENTY!) when all that was necessary was call the Illinois DOT and ask "So.......how's that toll thing working out for you?"

Iowa has the right idea by basing car licensing on the value of the vehicle.

Why should I pay the same registration fee on my 2008 Dodge Caliber the next person pays on their $70,000 Escalade....... .

[joe_padavano]

20 minutes ago, cahartley said:

Iowa has the right idea by basing car licensing on the value of the vehicle.

Why should I pay the same registration fee on my 2008 Dodge Caliber the next person pays on their $70,000 Escalade....... .

 

What does the size or value of the vehicle have to do with the cost to register it?  The effort to enter the data into the DMV computer, make the license plates, and print out the paper registration form is EXACTLY the same.  Now, if you are talking about TAXES, that's a different issue.

[John_S_in_Penna]

How would you like to save 30% on construction cost

IMMEDIATELY, thus being able to reduce gas taxes?

Repeal the "prevailing wages" that contractors are

forced to pay their workmen for large public projects.

 

Yes, the construction company I was with did both

private and public projects.  Our estimators figured that

the artificially high wages forced on us by government

increased the construction cost by 30%.

 

Around here, those wages are nowhere near what really prevails

in the free-market system; they were Franklin Roosevelt's well-intended

but socialistic idea from the depth of the Depression, when he sought to

have the federal government take control both of private prices charged 

and private wages paid.  (A dry-cleaner was fined, for instance, for charging

a discounted 30 cents to dry-clean a suit instead of the

35 cents which the federal government told him he must charge.

Roosevelt wanted to keep cut-throat competition from lowering prices,

and he wanted to set minimum wages--thinking that government

control could manage the economy into prosperity.

Most of that program was found to be unconstitutional.)

 

In some forms, those wages are still with us 80 years later, increasing construction costs, 

Edited January 13, 2017 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[Restorer32]

Prevailing wage especially impacts smaller municipalities. It limits competition because smaller contractors usually won't bid on prevailing wage projects, fearing their employees will refuse to work on non-prevailing wage jobs. For those who do not know, prevailing wage rules require non-union bidders on state financed construction projects to pay union wages.

[mercer09]

22 hours ago, mercer09 said:

 

Maybe most of that money goes to attendance at the pump they don't need.

 

what happened-Christie shut down all road repairs when his tax was turned down. Now some of the pot holes are getting fixed, because of the tax..................

 

millions of dollars of worthless repairs.

[padgett]

In Florida, the tag fee is related to the weight of the vehicle, not the age or cost. Of course when over 30 years old it gets cheaper. And Goat Trucks pay less. (partial list)

License Taxes-motorcycles $10.00
License Taxes-moped $5.00
Antique motorcycle $7.50
Antique automobile $7.50
Automobiles (Net weight up to 2,499 pounds) $14.50
Automobiles (2,500 - 3,499 pounds) $22.50
Automobiles (3,500 or more pounds) $32.50
Trucks (Net weight up to 1,999 pounds) $14.50
Trucks -based on weight (2,000 - 3,000 pounds) $22.50
Trucks -based on weight (3,001 - 5,000 pounds) $32.50
Goat Truck $7.50
(lots of bigger trucks left off)

[cahartley]

On 1/13/2017 at 2:16 PM, joe_padavano said:

 

What does the size or value of the vehicle have to do with the cost to register it?  The effort to enter the data into the DMV computer, make the license plates, and print out the paper registration form is EXACTLY the same.  Now, if you are talking about TAXES, that's a different issue.

 

Registering is the same as licensing in Wisconsin.

When we get the yearly stickler we also get a new registration certificate with it.

Ever hear of ability to pay?

If you want to argue argue with Iowa.

[padgett]

Always thought the increased cost by weight was to apportion  road use fees.

[nick8086]

Put a extra tax on buying tires.. to fix the roads..

[Guest Skyking]

5 hours ago, nick8086 said:

Put a extra tax on buying tires.. to fix the roads..

 

Do larger tires pay a heavier tax?  Where does it end?

[charlier]

8 hours ago, nick8086 said:

Put a extra tax on buying tires.. to fix the roads..

 

Actually, here in Pennsylvania the, "Public Transportation Assistance Fund" already includes a "tire fee" among other fees and taxes which is dedicated for funding mass transportation. This "fee" is imposed on the sale of new tires for highway use in Pennsylvania. 

[60FlatTop]

I think I was about 24 years old when I stormed into the payroll office to find out who made a mistake on my paycheck. They calmly explained where 40% of the base and 50% of the overtime had gone. I cashed the check and everything I bought had a sales tax and, where applicable, had a federal excise tax and privilege fees attached. Did something change?

Here is the city where a lot of the cost originates. Maybe if they knew how to turn some lights off they could do other things more efficiently.

Last year they cheered about regulating power plants and left the lights on. Duh.

Bernie

[mercer09]

sounds like you should have taken an "under the table" job and worked for cash...........

I think I was about 24 years old when I stormed into the payroll office to find out who made a mistake on my paycheck. They calmly explained where 40% of the base and 50% of the overtime had gone. I cashed the check and everything I bought had a sales tax and, where applicable, had a federal excise tax and privilege fees attached. Did something change?

Here is the city where a lot of the cost originates. Maybe if they knew how to turn some lights off they could do other things more efficiently.

[capngrog]

1 hour ago, mercer09 said:

sounds like you should have taken an "under the table" job and worked for cash...........

I thought that was against the law ...

 

Cheers,

Grog

[DAVE A]

22 hours ago, padgett said:

In Florida, the tag fee is related to the weight of the vehicle, not the age or cost. Of course when over 30 years old it gets cheaper. And Goat Trucks pay less. (partial list)

License Taxes-motorcycles $10.00
License Taxes-moped $5.00
Antique motorcycle $7.50
Antique automobile $7.50
Automobiles (Net weight up to 2,499 pounds) $14.50
Automobiles (2,500 - 3,499 pounds) $22.50
Automobiles (3,500 or more pounds) $32.50
Trucks (Net weight up to 1,999 pounds) $14.50
Trucks -based on weight (2,000 - 3,000 pounds) $22.50
Trucks -based on weight (3,001 - 5,000 pounds) $32.50
Goat Truck $7.50
(lots of bigger trucks left off)

 

 

Padgett;     I am looking at retirement in the next few months in Florida.  Here in Pa we have a one time registration fee of 75.00  no annual registration and no annual inspection for antique autos.  Can you fill me in on Florida?   I need to decide how many cars I'm taking south.

[nick8086]

Seven U.S. states currently don't have an income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. And residents of New Hampshire and Tennessee are also spared from handing over an extra chunk of their paycheck on April 15, though they do pay tax on dividends and income from investments.

 

Not sure on the old cars..

[JZRIV]

The state of PA is a mess and the fuel taxes noted are the tip of the iceberg. If I didn't have family here we would move to WV or NC in a second. We have a horrible governor who is running our Commonwealth into the ground and raising taxes everywhere which only results in padding the pockets of the cronies. Election day when the governor term is up can't get here soon enough. After the fuel tax the next biggest problem is the property tax program that is largely driven by the public school system and another tax burden that is out of control.

[60FlatTop]

17 hours ago, mercer09 said:

sounds like you should have taken an "under the table" job and worked for cash...........

 

Sounds good on the surface. But meat and taters is on the top of the table. Just a few crumbs fall under.

 

There are a lot of flaws in "the system" and even Ben Franklin thought it was pretty messed up. Anyone seriously tuned to the situation should read The Fourth Turning . I just did my part to remove aristocracy from government in a much less dramatic way than they did in the 1860's. I don't think the news people have worded it quite that way, though.

Bernie

[mercer09]

 

On 1/15/2017 at 4:46 PM, mercer09 said:

sounds like you should have taken an "under the table" job and worked for cash...........

I thought that was against the law ...

 

being alive and breathing is illegal anymore.......................!

[charlier]

On 1/15/2017 at 6:34 PM, DAVE A said:

 

 

Padgett;     I am looking at retirement in the next few months in Florida.  Here in Pa we have a one time registration fee of 75.00  no annual registration and no annual inspection for antique autos.  Can you fill me in on Florida?   I need to decide how many cars I'm taking south.

 

Dave,

 

Did you know that Registration and a tag for an Antique vehicle here in PA is now a $126 ($75 registration + $51 title fee) one time fee?

Gee, I remember when this fee was $97.50. If you want a PA Personalized Antique tag (up to 4 characters) add another $100. 

 

Looks like Florida may be less expensive than Pennsylvania when it comes to Antique vehicle plates.

Anyway, I found this on line in case it helps.

 

State of Florida Application for Registration of a Street Rod, Custom Vehicle, Horseless Carriage or Antique (Permanent)

 

Be on the lookout for any other hidden "fees" that might apply in your situation for Florida tags.

 

Charlie