I drive a 2014 Prius, and like Mr. Andrew Siegel, find that the gas savings are not much different from most newer, fuel-efficient, gas-powered cars on the road today (“Is the new alternative fuel vehicle fee fair?”). The only fuel my car uses is gasoline, but I will be penalized because my car’s designer was smart enough to add some extra batteries to its design and a means of producing battery power to store in them. Let’s not forget the thousands of truck drivers in our state who, out of necessity or choice, get fewer miles to the gallon than others who use our roads.
The entire system of trying to pay for road repairs out of gas taxes is inherently outdated and flawed, and definitely doesn’t spread the cost equally among road users. Perhaps it is time for our state to bite the bullet and come up with a more equitable way to accomplish this basic need. Should we get rid of the gasoline tax completely and make it a line item in the budget? Or base the annual registration fee for all vehicles on their weights and raise the current registration fees to reflect those weights? What about a small surcharge to every taxpayer’s taxes to build and maintain roads in Delaware? Because — let’s face it — we all use them, even if we ride the bus or have our groceries delivered by Amazon on them.
If we want to encourage buyers to purchase electric vehicles and to promote gas efficiency — thereby helping our environment — then this extra expense directed at alternative fuel users is definitely not the way to go. I encourage our lawmakers to go back to the drawing board and think outside the traditional gas tax box.
Ruth Ashby
Lincoln
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
