‘Wrong Road: No on 74’

Your editorial “Wrong Road: No on 74” (May 16) presented an inaccurate picture of the use of bonds to pay for improvements to our transportation facilities as authorized by Proposition 74 on the June ballot.

Your comment that the bonds are expensive suggests that nothing is gained for the interest charges paid. The truth is that substantial benefits in saved lives, reduced accidents, and less congestion are achieved. Bonds allow critical projects to be built in advance of the receipt of funds and, therefore, to provide these benefits to the public many years earlier. Your suggestion that important construction should be delayed while funds are collected from user fees advocates continued delay of needed projects. Bonds will allow construction now to be paid for as the project is in use. It is a very simple trade-off--a few dollars in interest costs for savings from a more efficient transportation system.

Your support for a tax increase simply represents a different philosophical position on the responsibilities of government. While you advocate continual increases in taxes and government spending, this Administration advocates fiscal responsibility and careful, prudent management of resources. The bonds authorized by Proposition 74 are a positive step in achieving our goal. They provide new money for needed projects at the state and local level. They provide the opportunity to speed up project delivery without waiting years for funds to accumulate. Because of these important benefits, the interest costs are well spent.

The simple point of fact is that you can have a better transportation system with the bonds than without them. Proposition 74 offers substantial benefits to the people of this state.

ROBERT K. BEST

Director

Department of Transportation

Sacramento