Lorain raises License plate fee to $20

[jf261398]

Lorain city council voted to raise the license plate fee from $5 to $20. This increase is supposed to be used only for the purpose of fixing our roads. See story here. (http://www.morningjournal.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19724576&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8) This extra $5M would only be a drop in the bucket towards the $70M estimated we need to get the streets in town up to a "C" rating!

I think this is a small price to pay so that the City can improve its aging infrastructure. We demand passable roads and therefore we must pay for that service. If you want to complain about paying for this service, then don't expect the roads to get any better!

As for the people that think a referrendum (story here (http://www.morningjournal.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19747896&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=566374&rfi=8))...why do we elect council members? We elect them as representation to vote on our behalf. That's why the quote from Scherach of, ''I've heard a lot of people would like to have the opportunity to vote on the issue of whether they should have their taxes increased.'' is rediculous. This referrendum is an effort to take some credit away from the Democrats for getting something positive accomplished. The Republicans who are leading this referrendum didn't have the gusto to pass such a measure themselves, and now want to get some credit for "helping" pass this issue.

By the way - infrastructure will always need investment to maintain. Concrete roads are only designed to last for 30 years. Asphalt overlays should be good for only 7 years. This is a never-ending maintenance obligation that municipalities must not neglect.

[bug722]

I think that the increase in license plate tax is a good idea. If it will help fix the roads so that we can drive down them then I say do it! If the roads do improve than hopefully people will be more willing and able to drive down the roads and help support the businesses in Lorain. The cost of everything is going up...why not this. It was ineveitable anyway. Lets just hope that the money is used constructively and the increase is a success!

[dolphin17]

I think that City Council had no right to raise the license plate fee. I am glad that there is a petition and that the plate fee increase could very well be on the ballot. I am sick and tired of the government charging me more and more for purchases that I have no choice but to make. The government keeps taking our money and leaves us nothing to live off of. If the roads in Lorain need fixed then the city should take the money from their bank account and fix it. Stop taking mine!!!

[Henery]

If the City had money, they wouldn't need to raise the taxes to fix the roads. If you want services, you need to pay for them. Costs go up for materials and services, so the increase gets passed on to those that utilize those services. City Council had the right because we, the voters, elected them to make those decisions. Everything would take forever to accomplish if every decision were placed on a ballot 2 or 3 times per year. They also see the need to improve the City's infrastructure in order to attract business and new residents. Who wants to live in a City or shop in one whose roads look like the surface of the moon?

[gregshafer]

I think that it is a good ideal because id rather pay an extra $20 than spend $100 for new schocks on my car and the roads with crater sized potholes destroying my car.

[christ_jewells11]

I can't say this is something to support when the average person is getting the bill for the larger business, city, county and state trucks and fans are largely what are causing the damage to the streets. Let alone the shoddy jobs done by engineers. I've seen them throw down a patch so sloppy that it didn't even cover anything damaged and the crack remained. It's also interesting to note the amount of work being done on various streets but how long it's taking and how poor the results of the "quick fixes" are.