Talking About Tolls

We were in Norway this summer, where oil money provides most citizens with a very good quality of life.  In an effort to be responsible with the windfall, the Norwegian government is trying to make sure that infrastructure investments are replenished.  Hence, they have heavy tolls on their roads, which are very controversial.  One of the citizens I met was surprised that this was a big issue where I came from as well!

And it certainly is.  Governor Lamont has been trying all year to get the Connecticut Legislature to adopt some version of tolls.  We have lots of bridges and highways that need repair, and most neighboring states have tolls already.  Yet businesses and taxpayers seem up in arms about tolls, even though (or perhaps because) we pay among the highest gas and cigarette taxes in the country, not to mention our steep income, sales, and corporate taxes.  Is the addition of tolls just a bridge too far (pun intended--I couldn't resist)?

One of the strongest and most surprising opponents has been the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.  Thirty years ago, it weighed in on the side of an income tax, but this time it raised its voice against tolls.  The argument, which isn't crazy, is that CBIA doesn't trust the Legislature to restrict the spending from tolls to transportation infrastructure.  Since they've learned to raid the general fund and get around the spending cap, this is a reasonable fear.  Yet it's a little like saying that you won't give a kid lunch money, because you don't think he'll spend it on lunch, but being unhappy that he didn't get to eat.  Unless you don't believe that we need to spend money on roads, bridges, rail, and airports--and there is pretty unanimous agreement on that--you must believe that the money will come from somewhere. Why not have it come from a related use, and one that taxes all the free riders (again, couldn't resist that pun!) that come through the state?  We are paying in other states, yet not taxing those who drive on our roads.

Another argument against tolls is that people will pay to get to work.  That's almost as bad as the argument that putting up tollbooths (which doesn't happen anymore) is too expensive.  Commuters can get tax credits, or their employers can get tax credits for reimbursing employees who pay.  Or we could have tolls only at non-commuting times, or only in some directions, as the Mass Pike did.  The point is that those are all reasons that can be nullified with a little creativity.

Are people here just feeling overtaxed?  That's certainly a feeling many of us share, and worry about, since workers and business owners are leaving the State.  But might they not prosper more if getting around were easier?  And wouldn't those inside the State have an advantage over those driving in from further distances with products?  Nothing is entirely clear, but I for one am willing to give tolls a try.

Opportunity Zones Draw Interest

400 people crowded into the Omni Hotel this week, to hear about the opportunities available in, well, opportunity zones.  Governor Lamont gave an address, encouraging the use of the zones to develop Connecticut's cities, and telling the audience that he would make sure that 15 minutes got cut from the train time to NYC.

Although the State would like to see people investing in businesses within the zones, most so far have concentrated on real estate holdings.  It is somewhat of a surprise to see how many big players are looking at this new sector of the market, but it isn't clear that they will snap up the smaller choices.  That's where the average investor comes in, especially when he/she knows the local area.

The length of time for most investments--ten years or more--will discourage some, but many will be undeterred.  When the current peak prices in the stock market are taken into account, a longer term with more reasonable returns seems safer.  Most of the bigger firms are expecting to get a return of 10-11% per year, over a decade.  It behooves those of us who live here to snap up some of this product, before others swoop in to claim the rewards.