Ken, here's a good analysis of the problems in regard to Washington states transportation mess.
I've taken the liberty of highlighting what I consider *very* important areas the Governor has been incompetent in addressing. It's absolutely incomprehensible to me that our Governor would be against allowing the state auditor to conduct performance audits. And it's even more perplexing to me why anyone would support such a tax-and-spend-aholic, who doesn't seem to care how our money is spent, whether it is being used wisely, or whether we can eliminate any waste.
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Unlocking Gridlock
Governor Locke aptly warned, "If we don’t fix our transportation problems now, our businesses won’t grow . . . they’ll leave our state. If we don’t have businesses, we won’t have jobs. It’s that simple."
Well said. It comes as no surprise to I-5 commuters that the Seattle area ranks 2nd in the nation (behind only Los Angeles) in time lost due to traffic congestion. State officials claim we need to increase taxes to solve this problem. But more taxes are not the answer. What we need is accountability for the money state officials already have. The Governor needs to allow the State Auditor to do his job and conduct performance audits, and we need performance-based budgeting for transportation. Locke recently vetoed both.
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation, in its "Unlocking Gridlock" series, has detailed a five-part solution to fixing our state’s transportation mess. The five proposals are:
1) making the transportation budget process effective,
2) allowing meaningful performance measures and performance audits,
3) implementing cost savings,
4) restructuring the Department of Transportation, and
5) identifying alternative funding sources.
1. Making the transportation budget process effective
Create a binding, accountable budget
Tie funding to performance
Find and eliminate inefficiencies
Treat the Legislative Transportation Committee expenses like the expenses of other committees
2. Allowing meaningful performance measures and performance audits
Clear and concise mission statement of Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) needs to be adopted
Specific and quantifiable goals must reflect overall expectation and intentions of the mission statement adopted
Performance goals must be established to show WSDOT’s progress
Regular performance audits must be undertaken to determine if WSDOT is effectively and efficiently managing its funds
3. Implementing cost savings
Review core missions and functions of state agencies
Refine competitive bidding
Streamline the permitting process
Avoid project labor agreements
Repeal the prevailing wage
4. Restructuring the Department of Transportation
Make the Secretary of Transportation a governor-appointed position
Eliminate unnecessary transportation agencies
Consolidate funding
5. Identifying alternative funding sources
State and local governments should sell their interests in assets that do not serve core functions of government
Minimize the federal role in transportation
Privatize the ferry system
Examine the Sound Transit Light Rail Project
Use sales taxes generated by automobile and other transportation-related sales to fund new roads
Lawmakers must agree on a responsible plan to provide and improve the transportation infrastructure our state needs.
Performance-based budgeting, performance audits, dedication of all existing taxes on automotive items, etc. should be the very first steps in addressing the transportation quagmire and bringing about needed road construction and maintenance.
Rather than pursue the tried-and-failed course of taxing citizens without providing accountability for funds, our state leaders need to manage the WSDOT much like any CEO would run a company. They need to look for cost savings while still providing the highest quality product to the consumer. While citizens may be willing to pay more for an efficient transportation system, the trend of recent statewide anti-tax initiatives should send the message that voters are no longer willing to write a blank check to state officials.
effwa.org |
