The choice between the gas tax and higher property taxes

In 16 months, New Jersey will no longer have a Republican governor. The Democrats already have control over both chambers of the Legislature. So in 16 months, the Democrats will have all the power they need to raise the gas tax to any amount they want.
Today, for the moment, there is a Republican governor. That means the Democrats need to compromise in order to get a gas tax increase. Senator Steve Oroho was asked by the Republicans to negotiate a compromise and he got one that phased out the job-killing Estate Tax, eliminated the tax on retirement income for most retirees, provided for a gas tax deduction for commuters, a tax cut for veterans, and a tax credit for working people who don't make a lot of money.
That was in June. The compromise failed to get the votes it needed. The Transportation Trust Fund ran out of money in July. With no money to pay the workers, road and bridge maintenance and repair stopped. Now our property taxes will have to increase to pay for scheduled road repaving and bridge projects.
Why did the money run out? Why did the TTF go bankrupt? Like most states, New Jersey funds our transportation projects using the gas tax, a users' tax. But unlike every other state in America, New Jersey hasn't raised its gas tax in 28 years. We still charge only 14 1/2 cents a gallon to pay for road and bridge repair while states like Pennsylvania have gradually risen their gas tax to over 50 cents a gallon. We went into debt while other states have been paying their way. Now all the money we get from that 14 1/2 cents a gallon goes to just paying the interest on that debt.
If you oppose increasing the gas tax, then you must expect to pay more property taxes. The roads and bridges won't fix themselves. It won't get done with community volunteers.
Kelly Ann Hart
Hardyston