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"Would you support a nickel increase in the gas tax for roads?"
(asked at the Bothell Library on 01-15-98; published in the EJ on 01-18-98)

Laura Baerwolf, Homemaker, Woodinville

"Yes, I would. My understanding is that the other options are to take money out of the General Fund, or take money away from education. So, given those options, a gas tax seems very reasonable if you're going to improve transportation."

Loy Willis William, Horticulturalist, Bothell

"Yes. And seven cents as opposed to five cents. I think we have enough money here in this country to do a lot of road improvement. When you travel around, not just locally, there are potholes everywhere. I think seven cents nationally would do a lot to improve the road problems we have."

Vic Galbraith, Retired air traffic controller, Kenmore

"No. I just feel there's enough money already there -- we're the highest taxed state as it is. How much more can you pay? The problem is inadequate use of the money available by the politicians sitting in Olympia. They should spend the money where it's needed instead of spending it just to spend it."

Chris Beatie, Computer technician, Puyallup

"Yeah. Definitely. I just bought a new truck and driving down the road and hitting a pothole -- it annoys me. There are just so many places the money goes these days, within the government, that some people think it's not well-spent. But until you're involved with government -- have a direct hand in where the money's being spent -- nobody's really going to know."

Marilyn Sadlowski, Retired complex designer, Snohomish

"I'm undecided about it right now. We need better roads, but we're taxed a lot as-is. With so many people coming into the state, you'd think we'd have enough money to pay for the roads."

Lu McAllister, Library page, Kenmore

"I don't think I would. I thought we had a surplus -- I think the money could come from there. Five cents seems like a lot. Two cents I can see. But five cents is getting to the point where it hurts."

© 1998 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal (née Journal American) newspaper.

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