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NO on Caltratn tax
Original post made
by Bill, another community,
on Apr 12, 2020
While everyone was preoccupied with the virus scare, I was horrified to read that Caltrain, the agency with an overpaid CEO, is proposing ANOTHER sales tax increase. Vote NO. Over the last several elections, voters in Santa Clara County have passed multiple tax and fee increases including gas taxes, two bridge toll increases, three VTA sales taxes, Santa Clara County’s Measure A 1/8 cent sales tax, the state prop 30 ¼ cent sales tax and the 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee of $10. Additionally, we’re on the hook to pay back numerous state bond issues including high speed rail, the Proposition 1 water bond and the infrastructure bonds of 2006.
It is time to reconsider transportation finance. The last thing we need right now is another bump in the sales tax. When the virus scare began, the congestion problem went away when companies began encouraging staff to work from home at least part of the time. Let's encourage more working at home when the virus scare is over. This tax would not be necessary if there were not as much demand.
We need to make sure this awful idea gets nipped in the bud. If you feel Caltrain must have more money despite increased working from home, please consider either diverting existing sales tax from the overpriced BART extension to San Jose (eliminate the Santa Clara portion) or raising taxes on the rich tech companies that are responsible for the congestion problem.
