Answer me this

Now that my family is at last moved in to our new place in Moreno Valley I'll be getting more updates and genuinely cool posts. Sorry for the delay all. Suneel I will most certainly respond to your inquiry about the new album, which sadly was also put on hold, but is definitely still progressing.

I need some help in answering a question about budgets and taxes. We're all aware that gas prices are going sky high, however I keep wondering not only the reason for the hikes, but also where this money goes.

At a 7/11 pump near work I happened to notice a sign that said 18 cents per gallon goes to the state of California. In addtion, I also read in an Orange County paper that said all music programs were going to be cut from local elementary schools because the state was going to make a budget cut of 19 million dollars.

Let's do some numbers. There are 36 million people living in the state of California as of the 2006 Census estimate. Of these 36 million, let's assume only half drive. Most likely the number is more, but for the sake of this argument let's say 50%. That equals: 18 million people who drive. Of this 18 million, let's say 12 million commute on a daily basis, 5 days a week. Let's also say that this 12 million buys one tank of gas per week, or an average of 30 miles each way to and from work. Let's say an average tank is 15 gallons accounting for trucks and SUVs. Now, for the math:

12 million x 15 gallons x 18 cents = $32400000. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, 32 million dollars EACH AND EVERY WEEK. How much per year? $1684800000. 16 billion dollars.

And that doesn't even apply to state taxes. Our roads are jammed and in disrepair, which requires municipal responsibility unless it is a highway, and even highways are also jammed and in disrepair as well.

So answer me this: where is all this money going, and why can't some of it go towards musical education in California schools?

I for one am writing my senator and representative about it. I encourage you to do the same.

Comments

[Jeremiah]

If you really want to know, here's where most of the California budget goes. Bear in mind, this is an accounting of *direct* expenses- I don't know where to look for budget info on CA's debt services (i.e., loan and bond payments, which are a significant portion of the annual budget.)

Secondly, your math makes a couple of gigantic assumptions, namely the 36 million figure is people who can drive, of which a percentage chooses not to or is otherwise unable. While i understand the mental exercise, the actual math may be flawed.

Elsewhere:

"Taxes and fees related to motor vehicles comprise about 35 percent of all special fund revenue. The principal sources are motor vehicle fees (registration, weight, and vehicle license fees) and motor vehicle fuel taxes. During 2007-08, it is expected that $8.8 billion in revenues will be derived from the ownership or operation of motor vehicles, a 2.9 percent increase from 2006-07. About 40 percent of all motor vehicle taxes and fees will be returned to local governments, and the remaining portion will be used for state transportation programs."

http://www.helium.com/items/879742-california-lemmings-falling-clifffrom

"The motor vehicle fuel tax (gas tax) is collected from distributors when fuel is loaded into ground transportation for transport to retail stations. This fuel is taxed at a rate of 18 cents per gallon. Fuels subject to the gas tax include gasoline, natural gas, and blends of gasoline and alcohol sold for use on public streets and highways.

Distributors pay the diesel fuel tax, which applies to both pure diesel fuel and blends, at the fuel terminal. Diesel fuel for highway use is taxed at a rate of 18 cents per gallon. Dyed diesel fuel, which is destined for off-highway uses such as farm equipment, is not taxed."

http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/BudgetSummary/REV/32270831.html

Good enough?

[Jeremiah]

Oops, the first paragraph should have this link:

http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/deptIndex.html

[Alex]

Thanks so much for this information Jeremiah. Good points all, except if you read my estimates again I don't count all 36 million. I cut that number in half to account for senior / disabled and under 16 drivers, which I think is actually an over-estimation, so certainly not exact, but it supports the argument even more.

I'm off to read this budget information and figure out what the issues are and why education is being targeted for budget cuts, and more importantly, why music is the first thing to go. Also, how is it that Texas has excellent K-12 music programs, and California, which supposedly should have more value on music given that it is, well, where the frickin' LA Symphony and, oh I dunno, HOLLYWOOD are located! :)

-Alex

[suneel]

its a simple answer alex. the money goes to the bush family, who own the oil fields. they get richer and richer while the us economy goes into recession.

[suneel]

"Suneel I will most certainly respond to your inquiry about the new album, which sadly was also put on hold, but is definitely still progressing." oh thanks alex! :)