Bexar County Green Party

San Antonio, Texas

Bexar County Green Party Asks Voters to Reject the VIA Advanced Transportation District Tax

Oct 15, 2004

Voters should reject the Advanced Transportation District Tax (ATD) in the November 2 election. Tell VIA to bring the voters a different proposal which uses all the tax money collected by VIA to improve the VIA system.

If this ATD proposal is accepted by the voters, San Antonio will acquire - in addition to having the most freeway mileage per capita in the state - the distinction of being the only municipality in Texas that collects a local sales tax for state highway projects. The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and the City of San Antonio will get half of this new revenue even though both have various other revenue streams with which to build and improve roads. The ATD will make TXDOT a permanent beneficiary of this new sales tax revenue. This will limit VIA's ability to fund expansion and improve service in the future, even as the demand for alternatives to the private automobile dramatically increases due to rising fuel prices.

By State Law, the only taxing ability VIA has is the Sales Tax, and only up to 1%. VIA is currently using 1/2%, leaving it able to tax 1/2% more. VIA's proposed ATD tax is for 1/4% more, bringing its share of the Sales Tax to 3/4%. But the ATD will give half of this new tax money away, leaving VIA with just 5/8%. VIA will then have only 1/4% more to pay for future improvements and expansion, while facing record fuel prices and forecasts of increased VIA patronage.

According to numerous recent studies, world oil production will peak within the next five years. Decreasing supply coupled with rapidly increasing demand in developing countries will put steeply upward pressure on all fuel prices. VIA needs to retain the potential to draw on its entire legal sales tax base as the implications of 'Peak Oil' become apparent to the electorate.

Permanently endowing TXDOT with local sales tax revenue through the ATD is neither environmentally nor economically sound. San Antonians resoundingly passed Proposition 3 to purchase land over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone to help protect our water supply. TXDOT has already publicized plans for a road project over the Recharge Zone using the proceeds from its share of this sales tax. This demonstrates an ongoing intent to use public funds contrary to good environmental practice and contrary to the obvious desire of the voters. Ironically, the ATD proposal, which has no expiration, has delayed until May a vote to renew Proposition 3, which expired this year.

Passage of the ATD will not assure that bus fares will remain stable. In fact, VIA has signaled its intent to significantly raise the price of the bus pass in 2005, perhaps anticipating the impact of rising fuel prices. VIA patrons are thus presented with a triple threat - increasing sales taxes, increasing monthly costs for riding the bus, and paying for the diversion of VIA administrative resources to manage the ATD for benefit of state transportation agendas, which may not be environmentally or economically sustainable.

The Green Party is puzzled that VIA has not petitioned the Texas Legislature for the same relief that school districts get from the per-gallon fuel tax charged by the State of Texas. The fuel tax paid by VIA amounts to a state tax on VIA bus riders, 74% of which goes to build highways and roads all over Texas. Why are we considering imposing further financial burdens on bus riding - one of the most environmentally beneficial choices San Antonians have- and instead, promoting increased road use - one of the least environmentally beneficial choices?

Two of the key values of the Green Party are ecological wisdom and community-based economics. The Advanced Transportation District as presented to voters on the November 2 ballot is neither ecologically wise nor economically sound.