REFORM FLAWED FUNDING FORMULA BEFORE CONSIDERING TAX INCREASES
|| By RON TAMACCIO || Good leaders solve problems. Good legislators often do the same. Both succeed by focusing on the challenge at hand and developing a solution that maximizes “outcome” (results), minimizes “input” (resources), and demands hands-on management, vigorous oversight, and strict accountability. Unfortunately, not all politicians are good leaders or good legislators, some are just “good” politicians.
The current machinations in Columbia about how to improve the condition of South Carolina’s roads are a good example of how politicians continually strive to preserve their control over budget priorities. Not “management,” not “oversight,” not “accountability,” just “control.” They want to decide how much money the state collects, where that money goes, and how it gets there!
For example, many in the legislature are moving at break-neck speed trying to pass an increase in the gas tax without first reforming the process by which the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) distributes those dollars to all 46 counties in the state. They’ve introduced more than 15 bills so far. Furthermore, they are ignoring State Treasurer Curtis Loftis‘ common-sense call for a comprehensive audit of the revenues collected, borrowed and spent for roadway maintenance and repair, before we add more money to what seems to be a seriously flawed system. He believes neither SCDOT, nor anyone else in state government, knows how much money state and local bureaucrats actually spend on maintaining and repairing our roads. This is “business as usual” in Colombia – overlook problems, raise taxes, and ignore accountability!
The lines of authority within the SCDOT are extraordinarily complicated. The result is little transparency and poor accountability! Moreover, there is no objectivity and no merit-based algorithm for approving road projects throughout the state. Neither is there a mechanism for providing road repair funding to local municipalities based on the actual condition of their roads. Instead, SCDOT uses its “C Program” to distribute about 17 percent of the gas tax revenue (2.66 cents per gallon out of 16.0 cents per gallon) to each of the state’s counties.
The “C” Program uses a rigid, 3-element formula that isn’t based on “need” or any other pre-determined roadway maintenance requirements. Much of the time, the “bureaucracy” diverts the remaining 83 percent of the gas tax revenue to construction projects for new roadways, expanding and subsidizing mass-transit projects, building and marking bicycle lanes, expanding walking and hiking trails, or even funding non-transportation projects. It’s no wonder our roads are deteriorating more with each passing day!
Treasurer Loftis and Governor Nikki Haley are correct – the labyrinth-like structure within SCDOT must be simplified and clarified before we consider raising taxes to pay for roadway repairs! To do otherwise is folly!
This is not the time for hyperbole or pettifoggery. It’s the time for our legislators to rebuild the people’s trust in government.
Ron Tamaccio is a retired professional airline pilot and senior military officer. After leaving those professions, he worked with the USDOT as a Regional Administrative Officer in Atlanta. He now lives in Greenville with his wife, Patricia.
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111 comments
Actually, H3579 is the big threat. Some legislators in Columbia want to pass the buck back to the counties, placing the maintenance responsibility for half of the state road network on the counties. At the same time, all 46 County Transportation Committees are to be dissolved at the end of the current fiscal year. The legislative delegation of each county will determine by July 1, 2015 how C funds — those gas tax funds that are remitted to counties — are to be administered beginning in Fiscal Year 2015-16.
So much for Home Rule, eh?
Few counties will have the means to fund such maintenance, so expect to see big variations as you travel on the same road through various counties.
At least the Governor put forward a proposal. Cant say the same for the Treasurer. He just wants to keep kicking the can down the road. Once the potholes damage his new $70,000 car I bet he’ll change his mind.
its not the treasurer’s place to submit those types of proposals. it is his place to request audits, which he had done
How is not his job to put forward a proposal when he lambasts other proposals. Curt never has any solutions to problems.
More paid political commentary.
Why would anyone pay to personally insult, disparage and lie about a politician? Because Loftis has hit them between the eyes! He has called them out for fraud waste and abuse and they hate him for it.
I am glad to do a small part by posting sanity on theses blogs. Keep up the good work Mr. Lofits. Their evil speaks for itself.
What specifically did he use as an example of fraud waste and abuse? I believe all he did was say the words without substantiating anything. It’s a Sal Alinksy liberal tactic.
Smelly little liars, selling their souls to a media company for a few bucks. Such a silly thing to do.
Is it silly or sinful? How does one go about selling oneself to a company? Slavery is illegal.
Selling ones soul is surprisingly easy. You know you have done it when you lie about your work. I doubt seriously that you tell your mom that you lie for a living, that this week you are paid to lie about Loftis, next week it is Haley, and the next week it is…
Stop being a slave to your own crazy antics bub! Just come out of the closet and use your Christian name when you post on here.
Lies, lies and more paid lies. Special interest says jump, and you jump. They say lie, and you lie.
Help them get their gas tax billions. They will give you a few coins.
LIES! SIN! SODOMY! Loftis Life, coming to Lifetime this summer.
Lies and more lies. A sad soul you have, a lost soul it is. Poor, pitiful you. Working for peanuts while special interests gets billions. They get steak, you get beans.
Paid liars working for a media company. Bottom of the barrel.
Can you please elaborate on my income further?
Pennys for your soul, that was so cheap. So sad you value it so cheaply.
Special interest bought you for pennies. Soul came for free. How sad.
Did you forget to take your meds? Not for your vile loathsome herpes infection, but for you bonkers mind? Drinking alcohol with certain meds can also be harmful.
Oh how silly the poor liar that is paid by the word. How poor the cause, and little the pay. Working for media companies paid by special interest to lie about a politician. How sad.
I’ll assume you didn’t take your meds. That’s not good. See what an idiot you’re making of yourself Rick/Curtis?
If Loftis does not want to come up with a solution he should shut up and let those who do speak. It is no help to kick the can down the road with muffled comments about “audits.” Loftis selectively agrees or disagrees with “audits” depending on whether they promote his political agenda or not. Our problem is we “audit” too much and never act. It’s time to get off the pot–Loftis is either part of the solution or part of the problem. He can’t ride the middle as he is currently trying to do.
Curtis Loftis is a huge part of the problem. He wants audits except when they trash him for poor performance.
More paid filth presented by the special interest that wants higher gas taxes.
They love to talk about anything but the roads, HIGH TAXES and their fraud waste and abuse.
What fraud, waste and abuse? Who specifically are these special interests? What high taxes? But down the liquor bottle Curtis, your alcoholism is showing.
Lies and filth by the paid media company and their low rent rats.
I don’t think you listed any specifics. You making things up again? How drunk are you?
Lies and distortion. How much was your soul worth?KW is cheap, hope you got enough for lunch.
So no specifics and more drunken rants. This guy wants to be taken seriously.
Comments by a paid media company.
Their mottos, filth and lies, at the ready!
Political nastiness at its worse. Special interest in favor of the gas tax is paying the bill and approving these messages.
The Treasurer has understood and handled this proposed tax perfectly. He stated his desire to reject the gas tax, to prioritize maintenance and preservation of the system, and to make road building and financing transparent and accountable. He did so with some humor and without rancor. He motivated and energized the base to make the calls and letters necessary to make the General Assembly think twice. Now, it looks like the tax is dead for this year.
Seems to me it is obvious why special interest has paid people to attack him. Makes perfect sense.
What humor? He sounded like the undereducated dunce that he is. He can claim no credit for killing something when the legislature has been in for 5 weeks. Only in Curtis’ head does he see himself as a victor.
More putrid bile for the paid media company. They don’t realize the talk of the town is their lies and filth. Makes Loftis looks good while making his opponents look sinful.
How does Curtis using alter egos make him look good?
We volunteer our time. We do the best we can for the treasurer. We post the obvious and the known fact that paid liars are employed by media companies that are hired by special interest.
We know the two entities involved for pay that are lying. We know the two entities that are paying them. Knowledge makes it easy for us to work hard, shinning the light on your lies.
Jake you are Curtis. You aren’t volunteering. Come back to reality. It’s you Curtis. Not Jake. You’re curtis. Repeat after me “There is no we. There is no Jake. There is only Curtis Melvin Loftis, Jr.”
Oh liar of liars, how you lie so well. Is your mom proud? Did she recognize your talent?
Paid media companies and their employees, lying about politicians. All to please their special interest masters.
Is your mother proud Curtis? No, she knows the monster you really are.
Oh such lies, how they roll off your lips so easily. Is the media company proud? The paymasters at the special interest proud?
They are getting a lot for their money. Souls for a few coins.
That isn’t a logical sentence. I take it you never made it to your english or logic classes when you didn’t graduate from USC.
We Jacks, Kevins and Ricks are not paid. We volunteer. We do not lie, like you. We fight for truth.
You and your lying friends enjoy pay from special interest groups that want tax dollars. We don’t want anything from the government. We want liberty, and truth. You want lies.
Kevin quit working for you this spring after he woke up and found you watching him sleep. Sicko.
Lying must occupy all of your time. Morning noon and night.
Do you have any money left over from when you sold your soul?
Special interest looking for gas tax money may give you more, in exchange for more lies.
I think Mr. Heekin would (and has) confirm what you did. He thinks your a scumbag.
Please do tell me how “special interests” would have access to Kevin Heekin, why he quit and what you did? Or could it be that these are people, not “paid media” or “special interests” that your responding to on here. I think logic would determine your are incorrect Rick/Curtis.
His new black Lexus does like nice! Easily affordable once you have the State paying for his lawyer… for ethics complaints against Curt. Greg Harris is a decent lawyer, but state funds should not be going to him in defense of Curt.
Curt should pay out of pocket for all the messes he makes.
Comments by a paid media company.
Their mottos, filth and lies, at the ready!
Political nastiness at its worse. Special interest in favor of the gas tax is paying the bill. Personal insults written by a 12 year old!
Put down the bottle Curtis. Were you drinking before, during or after your appearance on WLTX tonight? You looked like a fat, drunk slob. Horrible command of the english language too. Everyone could definitely see you never got your bachelors. 5 years and no degree..? And this guy is in charge of our money. Oh boy
More hateful bile spit from the belly of paid media company. May God have mercy on your soul.
Someone unhappy that they didn’t graduate?
More putrid lies from an insignificant paid liar, hired out to a paid media firm by special interest.
So sad.
Not paid, not hired. But I completed graduate school.
The Devil’s school no doubt. Even a 4th grader gets tired of writing lies on the bathroom wall. You don’t, so that is sad.
Your comments are hired lies paid for by special interest.
Where is the Devil’s school? Are you the principal there?
It is the place where people like you sell their souls for a few coins.
Thats not a location. You must be very very very very drunk tonight. I hope your hangover isn’t too terrible tomorrow.
lies, lies and lies. How easy it is for you.
I hope you make your employer happy, and he makes the special interest group that wants billions in gas tax money happy.
I retired buddy. No employer for me. But as a reminder, you’re employed by the people of SC. So you should consider acting like an adult rather than a spoiled obese toddler.
lies and more lies. Paid, but paid poorly. You can’t be retired because mature people have more judgement and character than to lie for a living.
So sad.
You can’t be elected because elected officials don’t post on blogs.
Paid liars are a sad bunch. They work for media companies that work for special interest.
Lie about one person in the morning, another in the afternoon.
Lie about one this week, another next week.
Lie for penny. Lie so people will like you. lie lie lie.
My goodness the treasurer is really losing his shit!
You are not as entertaining as you used to be. Seems you have become a boring liar.
You’ve never been entertaining. You’re jokes aren’t even funny. They’re usually creepy, vulgar or weird.
Men without a should, working for a media company that is paid to lie about politicians. So sad.
What’s a should? Is that alcohol messing with your cognitive skills or is it the disproportionate size of you fingers?
Brian, not Brain. (of course we know that already.
Lies are so easy for you. and Mr. K.
This of your sous. Is it worth an eternity in hell for a few gold pieces now?
Should vs. sous vs. ? Drunken spelling is so very entertaining!
TV can be distracting, but can also be helpful. Keeps my mind off all of your lies. Lies lies and more lies. All bought cheaply by special interest.
Are you watching your fat ass on the news rerun? Son you need a diet!
Watching a wonderful old movie. Thankfully, it is not about liars, like you. Selling your should for pennies to special interest.
We are here to shine the light on your lies.
No a SOUL* believes your 3 made up personalities are anyone other than you. There is no Loftis Army.
Oh, pitiful liar. What sadness you must have. Ask your special interest masters for more money. You deserve it, they will make billions and you make pennies. So unfair. So sad.
I don’t envy the bugman. Anyone ever check out how many lawsuits were filed against Curtis when he was “running” his pest company? Lots and lots.
Harris was Chairman of the State Ethics Commission. Why would Loftis be paying him out of state funds?
Comments by a paid media company.
Their mottos, filth and lies, at the ready!
Political nastiness at its worse. Special interest in favor of the gas tax is paying the bill.
How many cosmos have you had tonight curtis? You drinking while you eat your fruity pebbles again?
How many dollars did you charge for your soul? $500 a week to sit and lie? $1000 a week to spew bile?
How much was your soul worth, Mr. paid media company man?
My my Curtis. You know a thing or two about spewing bile ;)
Did the ad read: Liars needed to disparage politicians. Must not have a soul, be a good liar, and can distort any fact to make it look bad.
Selling ones soul cheap is a bad move. Ask Judas.
What ad? You’re not referring to employment advertisements on Craigslist are you? I’m not military or college aged though :(
Liars do lie ell. Thant gives them value, especially if lying is their only talent.
How sad their life must be. Working for a media company hired by special interest.
How sad you must be to post for services on Craigslist!
oh you liar, poor liar. Lost your soul for a few dollars to special interest. They get billions, you get pennies.
So sad to be a paid liar. Hundreds of post, full of lies. Crazy and a liar, what a combo.
Screenshots dont lie curt
lies, lies and more lies.
Not lies. You’ll see these come out when your under investigation between March and April.
Lies and more lies. Oh, how tiresome.
Guess you’ll find out soon. Subpoenas are gonna roll!
Lieas and threats and more lies. Oh how you and the media company and the special interest that hired them can keep it all straight.
Lies lies and more lies. All paid for, and on the cheap too.
Your spelling is becoming very bad. Take your sleeping pills and go to sleep. The boogeymen your chasing in your head will still be here tomorrow. Put your vodka in the cabinet and get some sleep. You’re very tired.
Lies, paid lies by liars.
Special interest makes millions while you lackeys make pennies.
You sold your soul for a few coins. Cheap and efficient, when one thinks about it.
Don’t break any keyboards at work tomorrow. Your staff deserves better. Don’t yell either, it makes your crazy eyes look crazier.
Envy is so disagreeable, and boring. Almost as much as paid lies told by the soulless as they work for media companies hired by special interest that wants a higher gas tax.
Shhhh Curtis! Don’t out our master plan to get a gas tax passed by writing disparaging (but true) comments about you on a blog! The General Assembly gets such a kick out of your craziness on here. You’re the talk of the lobby!
Lies lies and more lies. A few shekels and you lie. A few gold pieces and you lie. I can only imagine what you would do for real money, not the leftovers.
What do you like to buy with your money?
I am special interest and I buy media companies that lie for a living. They post disparaging comments for money. They lie on que. They are good at what they do. But they lost their souls along the way and that is sad.
Did you advertise on Craigslist for your media services?
No, you got them by contract. Whoring yourself out seems so easy, but I suppose an eternity in hell may not be as pleasant as you think.
You are a paid liar working for a company, hired by special interest. Give my regards to K.
I have never whored myself out and that’s why I never contracted herpes.
Jealous, envy, greed. Your lies tell who you are.
Special interest paid for your soul and they have gotten a good deal. You lie about elected officials everyday and get paid for it. A degenerates dream.
A degenerate lies about graduating from college.
well said, a little overzealous with the use of exclaimation marks, but not bad at all
Most of your comments are just sad. None of you have a clue about transportation funding. Congress passes a transportation bill that decides the funding categories, and then states have to match those funds to get any of that federal funding. This forces states to be completely reactionary to access these funds. The state hasn’t increased funding which would go to this required match or maintenance of roads since 1987. NOTHING costs what it did in 1987, inflation….This inaction forces our state to decrease Maintenence funding to match federal funding for projects. SCDOT isn’t the problem, it’s Congress and our local legislature that is too inept to properly plan anything.
Everyone knows DOT is wasteful.
Clean it up and then ask for money. Otherwise, don’t bother asking.
“…pettifoggery…” you say
pettidogging yes, pettifoggery no way
I totally agree. We need to keep pounding this message home with our legislators. We can’t raise taxes without real assurance our money won’t go to pork barrel projects.
Second the motion
However SCDOT and its Great Granddaddy The Highway Department have always been the largest and easiest barrel of pork for the Legislators draw from to shore up their elect-ability
They will put some lipstick on the pig and convince a few that major changes are underway but in reality the current culture is too ingrained for any substantive changes
Ironic that SCDOT and SCSU, two pigs of the same DNA sucking dry the same tit, are at the cross roads of elimination
If the people of SC are against a gasoline tax increase, than their SHALL BE no increase. Put it on the November Ballot!!!!!! c…. Do NOT give these low life scum son of a bitches in the legislature any say so in this matter – PERIOD! We are dealing with THIEVES!!!!!
Put it on the ballot? … If and only if that ballot proposal is written by a third party. Gruberment will write it in such a way that the money-to-cronies will continue to flow.
Mr. Tamaccio,
Thanks for the editorial. It is right on target. Thanks for being courages enough to stand up to the good old boys.
Like stray cats licking up the gravy and chicken bones at the picnic table …
When any state or fed transportation bureaucracy asks for funding of generic “infrastructure”, taxpayers and voters can be sure, absolutely, that a lot of no-bid projects are in the works.
This is the life blood of bloated Gruberment: the silent, un-named slithering of hidden money squirreled away inside of complicated, cryptic, omni-bus spending legislation.
This is how the conclusions from economic researchers can conclude that every g’ment job kills three or more private sector jobs. (Axiomatic: Univ. of Madrid (Spain) Economics report on g’ment wastage in the EU. The devil is in the details.)