Pothole Mentality

Every day that California’s transportation finance program sits with its engine on idle, the state falls further behind. Even the 8-cent-a-gallon increase in the state gasoline tax proposed by Republican leaders in the Legislature this week would do no more than allow California to keep up with present growth and maintenance demands, if that. But the GOP lawmakers should be commended for their recognition of a crisis that faces California, even if it means parting company on the issue with their governor.

Gov. George Deukmejian remains an opponent of higher taxes, but he would consider signing the legislation needed to put the issue on the November ballot. Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, however, thinks that the Republicans are just playing electoral games and sees no reason to give them that chance. If the Speaker insists on that strategy, he is dooming California to even more traffic congestion and aging roads turning to rubble in order to preserve his own political skin.

Senate Democrats and Independent Sen. Quentin L. Kopp of San Francisco have been supportinga 6-cent-a-gallon increase coupled with a 40% increase in fees for large trucks. In terms of need, the best combination of the two programs would be the 8-cent tax increase and the higher truck fees. Under the GOP proposal, nearly half the increase would go to cities and counties. But there are several other proposals available, so lawmakers can pick the most effective and most politically viable.

A recent poll shows that Californians favor more spending on transportation, and generally prefer the gasoline tax over other methods of raising revenue. But support for an increase of more than 3 cents a gallon was not strong. A vigorous campaign would have to be waged in behalf of such a ballot issue.

But the facts are on the side of the proponents, and should be persuasive if presented well in a unified campaign--particularly if it included the governor.

The fuel tax has been raised only once since 1963, when gasoline sold for about 25 cents a gallon. It went from 7 to 9 cents more than five years ago. Neighboring states have much higher fuel taxes--Oregon 14 cents, Nevada 16 cents and Utah 19 cents. Per-capita spending on highways in California ranks last among the 50 states.

California, with almost 28 million residents, spent $1.4 billion on its highway system last year. In 1969, with a population of fewer than 20 million, the state spent $3.2 billion. Real spending for highways, when adjusted for inflation, thus has declined from $160 per resident in 1969 to only about $50 annually now. Meanwhile, one research group estimates that the cost of traffic delays and driving on poorly maintained roads is $2 billion a year.

Californians are throwing more money down potholes than they are spending to maintain a modern highway system. Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature must seize the present opportunity to do something about it. On this issue, leadership cannot take a holiday just because it is an election year.