{"id":2041869,"date":"2023-09-22T18:47:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T22:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sandag-board-removes-controversial-mileage-tax-from-2025-regional-plan\/"},"modified":"2023-09-22T18:53:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T22:53:00","slug":"sandag-board-removes-controversial-mileage-tax-from-2025-regional-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sandag-board-removes-controversial-mileage-tax-from-2025-regional-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"SANDAG Board scraps &#8216;Mileage Tax&#8217; from 2025 Regional Plan."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsandag-board-removes-controversial-mileage-tax-from-2025-regional-plan%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2041869&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>SAN DIEGO Association \u2062of Governments Removes Controversial Mileage Tax \u2062from Regional Plan<\/h2>\n<p>In a decisive 15-4 vote, the San Diego Association of Governments&#8217; (SANDAG) Board of Directors has officially eliminated the contentious Regional Road User \u200dCharge, also known as the mileage tax, from its 2025 Regional Plan.<\/p>\n<p>The removal of the tax was spearheaded by San Marcos Mayor \u2063Rebecca Jones, who led a passionate protest outside SANDAG&#8217;s office before the board meeting.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;This policy threatened the\u2063 core principles of American freedom and imposed a disproportionate burden on the majority of our region&#8217;s residents,&#8221; declared El Cajon Mayor Bills \u2063Wells, a vocal opponent \u2063of \u200cthe tax. &#8220;Today, we proudly announce\u2062 a committed and unified stance to eliminate this \u2064regressive tax.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-awarded-100-million-from-fed-to-plant-trees-to-combat-extreme-heat-5493984?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3><strong>California Awarded \u200c$100 Million From Fed to Plant Trees to\u200c Combat\u200d Extreme Heat<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/18\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-awarded-100-million-from-fed-to-plant-trees-to-combat-extreme-heat-5493984?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/2-puppies-rescued-from-well-in-kearny-mesa-by-humane-society-5492796?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3><strong>2 Puppies Rescued From Well in San Diego by Humane Society<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/16\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/2-puppies-rescued-from-well-in-kearny-mesa-by-humane-society-5492796?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;The notion of being tracked and taxed for \u2064every \u200bmile one drives \u2063is fundamentally contrary to\u2063 the values that define our great nation,&#8221; expressed El Cajon Mayor Bills Wells. &#8220;San Diego\u200c has \u200blong\u2063 stood as a beacon\u2064 of individual liberty and personal choice, and the mileage tax undermines these principles at their core.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In December 2021, SANDAG approved \u200bthe 2021 Regional Transportation Plan without the inclusion of the mileage tax, raising concerns about funding the $165 billion plan.<\/p>\n<p>Among the proposed funding strategies by SANDAG leadership \u2064were a four-cents-per-mile road usage tax and two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sandag-board-removes-controversial-mileage-tax-from-2025-regional-plan\/\" title=\"SANDAG Board scraps 'Mileage Tax' from 2025 Regional Plan.\">half-cent regional sales taxes scheduled<\/a> for 2022 and 2028. SANDAG estimated that the road usage tax could\u200c generate over $34 \u200cbillion by \u200c2050, but the agency&#8217;s chief economist, Ray Major, acknowledged that the figures\u200d would change once the proposal&#8217;s implementation scope narrowed down to 2030.<\/p>\n<p>However, San Diego County Supervisor Chairwoman Nora Vargas dismissed much of the concern as misinformation.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;The previous SANDAG Board\u2063 directed \u2062an amendment to remove the [Road User Charge] from\u200d the regional plan,&#8221; clarified Ms. Vargas. &#8220;SANDAG is working on this and will submit the amendment to the state. The\u2063 state will make the final decision. To be clear, no government agency has the authority \u200dto implement a tax that would impact our region without voter approval.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Last September, SANDAG&#8217;s Board of Directors voted to exclude the mileage tax from the Regional Transportation\u2062 Plan, following a sudden change of heart by \u2063several Democratic lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the board&#8217;s decision, SANDAG&#8217;s Executive Director Hasan Ikhrata proceeded with a \u2064plan that retained the charge. However, Mr. Ikhrata has recently announced his departure from the regional planning agency, effective\u200b Dec. 29.<\/p>\n<p>San Diego\u2062 County Supervisor Jim Desmond, a \u200cfrequent critic of SANDAG&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-gov-katie-hobbs-vetoes-republicans-maricopa-county-bill-on-infrastructure-funding-strategy\/\" title=\"Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs rejects GOP's Maricopa County infrastructure funding bill.\">regional transportation plan<\/a>, emphasized the need for a \u200bunified regional plan that\u2063 everyone can support, rather than relying on doom and gloom scenarios and mileage \u2063taxes.<\/p>\n<p>The board consists of representatives from the \u200c18 municipalities in the county and the county at large.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What alternative solutions\u200d will SANDAG now explore in \u2064order to address the region&#8217;s transportation\u200c needs without imposing a mileage tax<\/h2>\n<p><span>  And personal choice, and this mileage tax would have diminished those \u2062core principles.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Regional Road User Charge was initially proposed as a means to generate revenue for\u200d transportation infrastructure improvements. \u200dThe tax\u2062 would \u2062have required residents to pay a fee based on the number of \u2063miles they drove, with the intention of incentivizing the use of public transportation and reducing traffic congestion.<\/p>\n<p>However, the idea faced fierce opposition\u2062 from concerned citizens and local officials who argued that it disproportionately targeted low-income individuals and families who rely\u200d on cars for their daily commutes. Critics also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/revealed-doj-secretly-thwarted-release-of-russia-docs-declassified-by-trump\/\" title=\"Revealed: DOJ Secretly Thwarted Release of Russia Docs Declassified by Trump\">raised privacy concerns<\/a>, as the implementation\u200d of the tax would require tracking the mileage of every vehicle \u2063in the region.<\/p>\n<p>Mayor\u2064 Rebecca Jones emerged as a prominent voice against the mileage tax, rallying support and mobilizing a\u200b grassroots movement. \u2063Her efforts culminated\u200b in a passionate protest outside\u200b SANDAG&#8217;s office on the day of the board meeting.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I\u200c believe in \u2062responsible\u2062 and sustainable solutions for our transportation challenges, but this was not the answer,&#8221; stated Mayor Jones. &#8220;We need to explore alternatives that do not burden our working families and infringe on their privacy rights.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The removal of the mileage tax from the 2025 Regional Plan\u2063 represents a significant victory for the opponents of\u200c the measure. \u2062It signifies a commitment to \u2064finding alternative funding sources for \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chuck-schumer-wins-record-6-8-billion-from-biden-administration-for-new-york-tunnel-project\/\" title=\"Chuck Schumer secures historic .8B for New York tunnel project from Biden administration.\">improving transportation infrastructure<\/a>\u2063 while ensuring\u200c that the burden is not unfairly placed on certain \u200dsegments of the population.<\/p>\n<p>SANDAG \u2064will now shift \u2063its focus towards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-says-packing-supreme-court-could-politicize-it-forever\/\" title=\"Biden warns against permanently politicizing Supreme Court with court packing.\">exploring alternative solutions<\/a> that address the region&#8217;s transportation needs without\u2064 imposing a mileage tax. This may include exploring public-private partnerships, leveraging state and federal funding, and implementing\u2064 innovative transportation systems.<\/p>\n<p>Board Chair and San Diego County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer expressed optimism about the\u200c future of transportation planning in \u2064the region. &#8220;We have an opportunity to chart a new course\u2014one that prioritizes equity, sustainability, and efficiency. With the\u200c removal of the\u200b mileage \u200dtax, we can \u2062move forward in\u200c a way that benefits all residents of San Diego County.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The decision to remove the controversial mileage tax\u200c demonstrates the importance of public\u200b engagement and the power of organized \u2063grassroots movements. It also serves as a \u200breminder that policymakers must carefully consider the potential impacts of new policies on all segments of society.<\/p>\n<p>As the region continues to grow, finding sustainable and \u2064equitable \u2063transportation solutions will remain a pressing issue. The removal of the mileage tax opens the door \u2064for innovative\u2063 approaches that prioritize the needs and values of San Diego County&#8217;s \u200ddiverse \u2062population.<\/p>\n<p>By eliminating the mileage tax from the 2025 Regional Plan, SANDAG has taken a significant step in ensuring \u2062that transportation planning in \u2063the region reflects the principles \u2064of fairness, privacy,\u200b and individual liberty \u2064that are cherished by its residents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The SANDAG Board of Directors in San Diego voted 15-4 to eliminate the Regional Road User Charge from its 2025 Regional Plan. Mayor Rebecca Jones of San Marcos spearheaded the effort and organized a protest outside SANDAG&#8217;s office.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":2041870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2041869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041869","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2041869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2041869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2041870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2041869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2041869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2041869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}