As tax measures go, the way the City of Gallatin goes about improving its streets is the way taxes are supposed to be used.
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Improvements are apparent. You don’t have to drive slowly or walk a dog from street to street to tell where the tax dollars are being spent. The repavement is obvious and (very) good!
Street paving is consistent. We can’t afford to deck every street in town at once. But since 2008 a different street or streets have received a new thick deck of hot asphalt almost every year.
Choosing streets by highest traffic load or by overall length makes sense. This systematic approach encourages patience for those who simply wait their turn for new pavement. Seeing annual improvements means “my turn” will (eventually) come.
Financing is transparent. Total sales tax collections nearly match total expenses of new pavement. This evidence is easy to understand: city leaders are hitting budget targets, authorizing work based on actual bids. There is no evidence of mismanagement or oversight negligence; work is being accomplished in timely fashion as bid.
Stay the course. There is only one way to continue this steady rate of progress and that is to renew the 1\2-cent sales tax proposal on next Tuesday’s ballot. We’re already used to paying this sales tax, and there’s really no reason to vote no if you want good streets in more places around town.
This isn’t a property tax where a disproportionate few pay while others pay less or even nothing. Gallatin’s sales tax is not excessive. The sales tax is paid by many, including those who reside elsewhere but use this city’s streets while doing retail business here.
As you approach next Tuesday’s decision on Gallatin’s transportation sales tax, you know exactly what you’re being asked and precisely what to expect. There’s no hocus-pocus here. The decision is simple: If you like good streets, renew the sales tax so that progress continues.
We urge you to vote “Yes” on Tuesday’s ballot so that Gallatin can keep on keeping on. But either way, we hope for a large voter turnout on this and other ballot decisions, so that the direction we give our community leaders is indisputably clear.
We endorse Gallatin’s approach to repaving streets with long-lasting hot asphalt, laid by experienced professional contractors. This plan is working. We wish all ballot decisions were so straightforward and clear.