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Kulongoski proposes mileage tax

Monday, December 29, 2008 10:08 AM PST

By The Associated Press

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SALEM, Ore. — Gov. Ted Kulongoski says he will ask the Legislature to begin "a path to transition away from the gas tax as the central funding source for transportation" and to replace it with a mileage tax boosted by satellite technology.

A year ago, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced it had demonstrated that a mileage tax could work.

The proposal is part of a transportation-related bill he has filed for the upcoming session.

"As Oregonians drive less and demand more fuel-efficient vehicles, it is increasingly important that the state find a new way, other than the gas tax, to finance our transportation system," according to the policies he has outlined online.

Kulongoski proposes to continue the work of the special task force that came up with and tested the idea of a mileage tax to replace the gas tax, the Albany Democrat-Herald reported Sunday.

The governor wants the task force "to partner with auto manufacturers to refine technology that would enable Oregonians to pay for the transportation system based on how many miles they drive."

The online outline adds: "The governor is committed to ensuring that rural Oregon is not adversely affected and that privacy concerns are addressed."

Critics had worried that the technology could be used to track where vehicles go, not just how far they travel, and that this information could be stored by the government.

In interviews with the Democrat-Herald and others, James Whitty, the ODOT official in charge of the project, tried to assure the public that that was not in the plans.

The task force's final report came out in November 2007. It was based largely on a field test in which about 300 motorists in the Portland area and two service stations took part over 10 months, ending in March 2007.

A GPS-based system kept track of the in-state mileage driven by the volunteers.

When they bought fuel, a device in their vehicles was read, and they paid 1.2 cents a mile and got a refund of the state gas tax of 24 cents a gallon.

"The concept requires no transmission of vehicle travel locations," the report said.

The report said that under the Oregon concept of the program, "ODOT would have no involvement in developing the on-vehicle devices, installing them in vehicles, maintaining them or having any other access to them except, perhaps, in situations involving tampering or similar fee evasion activities."

Equipment for the Oregon test was developed at Oregon State University. Whitty said last year it might take about $20 million to establish that the mileage tax is commercially viable.

Eventually, GPS devices would have to be built into cars, and fueling stations would have to be similarly equipped. The gas tax would stay in force — Kulongoski has proposed that it be raised 2 cents — for vehicles not equipped to pay the mileage tax.

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Mr. Bastinado wrote on Dec 29, 2008 10:32 AM:

" Talk about Big Brother, Sheesh. Some of these science-fiction novels are coming to reality more and more. Next it'll be barcodes laser-tatooed on our foreheads upon birth or you'll be outcast with no ability to be employed or live in society. It's all about gradual conditioning. "

Thought wrote on Dec 29, 2008 10:42 AM:

" Sounds like another $20 million gamble to me. Just shows how much the government is tied to oil.Not really in their interest to lower oil comsumption.Just raise the gas tax and take the heat.If I read this right this is in addition to the gas tax.No brainer.Opps sorry.. We are talking about the government. "

DEH wrote on Dec 29, 2008 10:43 AM:

" Just because they don't plan to use this information for privacy invasion now doesn't mean they never will. Once all the cars were appropriately equipped with the technology, it would not be hard for them to change their minds. I like the idea of tying the tax to mileage rather than gasoline, but not at the the expense of my privacy. I think I'd rather pay the extra two cents per gallon to have an "unequipped" car, but that's just me. A number of cars already have GPS, so apparently it's not a problem for some people. "

somedude wrote on Dec 29, 2008 11:06 AM:

" lol, Just like when Wasington State said when passing the seat belt laws all those years ago "We will never pull you over for not wearing a seatbelt"
A litle bit at a time, take a little bit at a time, nobody will notice and we will tell them it's for their own good "

Atrucker wrote on Dec 29, 2008 11:15 AM:

" We had p.c.u. plates for years on the trucks . Those red plates also had an embedded chip in them . It did track what you were doing while in the state of Oregon. We hated paying their fuel taxes. People in other states will avoid you Oregon if they can , and it can be done . I feel sorry for the commuters if this thing happens .
Oh Boy just what the people need another stupid tax, Where is my box of tea to throw in the Columbia river.
Thought you read wrong . It replaces the gas tax. But not at first.
Being required to add a gps to your car sounds like big brother to me if they want this system they can dam well pay for it too . They must think those things are cheap , WRONG !!
Just say no to this whole stupid idea.
And yes it can track you any where you go. "

kalama river resident wrote on Dec 29, 2008 11:38 AM:

" Of course they want to tax mileage, how else will they generate revenue when everybody owns "green" vehicles. "

DS wrote on Dec 29, 2008 11:48 AM:

" Calculate how much tax you would pay for each gallon of gas used in a car that gets 10 MPG, 20 MPG, 30 MPG, 40 MPG. Compare that to the 24 cents per gallon mentioned in the article, then I think you will see what they are worried about. Considering this and how simple the gas tax is to do then this looks like a bad idea to me. "

SM wrote on Dec 29, 2008 12:21 PM:

" If revenues from the gas tax drop too much, just do the easy thing and raise it instead of trying to implement something complicated and invasive. "

commenter wrote on Dec 29, 2008 12:30 PM:

" What if you travel out of state? Does it stop counting the miles? It would be like paying taxes for somebody elses roads. What about somebody who puts a lot of miles driving their vehicle on a farm? Will this work for lawn mowers as well? "

American First wrote on Dec 29, 2008 1:33 PM:

" This is Scary! You will be able to go no where without the gestapo knowing about it. What everybody needs to know is everything can be tracked, speed, exact location, engine temp, oil pressure, number of passengers in vehicle, everything. Next will be chips under the skin just like you can do for your dog or cat. Wow, are Americans going to tolerate this? "

columbian wrote on Dec 29, 2008 2:19 PM:

" AS DRIVERS DRIVE FARTHER TO WORK BECAUSE THERES NO WORK AROUND HERE THATS GOOD NEWS FOR THEM.BY THE WAY TED I SENT YOU 3 LETTERS LAST WEEK ASKING YOU TO TELL ME WHERE THE MONEY THAT WENT TO THE BANK BAIL-OUT WAS GOING.STILL NO ANSWER. "

dude wrote on Dec 29, 2008 2:45 PM:

" The math is the gas tax at 24 cents per gallon at 10 mpg is $0.024 per mile. At 20 mpg its $0.012 per mile. At 30 mpg its $0.008 per mile. At 40 mpg its $0.006 per mile. Or if you drove 12,000 miles it would cost you $288 at 10 mpg, $144 at 20 mpg, $96 at 30 mpg, and $72 at 40 mpg. Doesnt take a genius to figure the present system isnt taxing everyone equally even though they dive on the same road with the same miles. The greener we get the less revenues well have for fixing roads. How would they collect these taxes? "

Nunesy wrote on Dec 30, 2008 9:35 AM:

" On one hand, it makes sense. People who drive and use the roads pay the tax, people who don't use the roads, don't. But on the other hand, some people who drive off-road will pay for roads they don't use. Or economy cars that use less gas will pay the same as huge SUV's for the same miles. A lot needs to be worked out. As far as Big Brother is concerned, he's already here and ain't going away. "

Proud Teacher wrote on Dec 30, 2008 10:43 AM:

" What about people in Eastern Oregon? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! Having lived in a small town in Eastern Oregon where you had to drive 50 miles over a crooked two-lane road just to get to "the big city" of 15,000, this will really hurt those folks over there. Governore Kulongoski, you need to think about better ways to make up your revenue that doesn't unduly punish folks in Eastern Oregon, or on the coast, that have to drive further just to utilize essential services. "

1arealocal wrote on Jan 5, 2009 3:11 PM:

" All of you that are thinking "this isn't so bad," WAKE UP....How many of your rights as a CITIZEN are you going to let get stripped away by left wing nut jobs? Dont sit down and let this happen. First OR then WA. How long before the few gets in this. This is why I choose to drive an older vehicle, no GPS, no OnStar, no satellite radio....what can get beamed down can get beamed up, and who knows where it can go from there. "

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