For or Against Tolls of I-540

[Shaggysan]

I remember some years ago before the 540 project was started that they raised taxes on us to pay for it. Then they ran into supposed cost overruns and all of the sudden didn't have enough money to finish. It always seems to be the MO of government to raise taxes on you then when you forget about it a year or so later they play stupid and come back looking for more and want to raise taxes again. And going to the federal government for a handout should be the last thing NC does, there are too many strings attached to that money and we always end up on the short end of the stick. I would only be interested in a toll if the state government actually had their budget in check and were not wasting money on petty projects, and could prove that it was necessary to put a toll on that part of 540.

Just as a side note, it was funny when they brought in the lottery as a way to help increase funding to the school system, but the schools get only a small portion of that. And I remember they talked about trying to take some of that money to support the road projects, but they still talk about having issues funding schools. They cant have it both ways.

[plynth]

Toll roads are very durable - they never go away. There are toll roads in other cities, the bonds for which have been paid 4 times over, which provide some people with a terrific income. The tolls you pay are paid with after tax dollars, which is nice. And tolls are an act of generosity - you pay so that everyone else doesn't have to pay more in taxes. Its a win, win, win, win.

Cheers,

A North Raleigh resident