Debate Over Fee Increases at MA RMV Heating Up
Friday, May 16, 2014
Republicans and critics are condemning the fee increases the Registry of Motor Vehicles plans to implement this summer.
“The proposed fee increases are outrageous,” said Worcester Tea Party Chief Evangelist Matt O’Brien.
“We spend 6 times more per mile in administrative cost than the national average,” said O’Brien, citing the Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report from 2013 that ranked Massachusetts 43rd in the U.S. in terms of overall highway performance and efficiency.
There are 3 proposed fee increases: A $10 increase ($50-$60) on non-commercial vehicle registration, a $15 increase on the road test fee ($20-$35), and a $6 increase on annual motor vehicle inspection fees ($29-$35).
The new fees are expected to generate between approximately $55 million and $63 million in Fiscal Year 2015, according to MassDOT. The target date for instituting the new fees is July 1, 2014.
The Debate
MassDOT is required to raise its “Own Source Revenues” by the Transportation Finance Law of 2013. Such revenue sources include MBTA fares, tolls and RMV fees, which are used continue making investments in the state’s transportation system. This process has been dubbed “The Way Forward.”
In order to maintain current services levels at MassDOT while pushing reforms, a projected gap of approximately $55M exists in the budget.
MassDOT decided to raise the non-commercial inspection fee, the road test fee, and the registration fee for 3 primary reasons: These fees haven’t been raised recently, these fees are low compared to other states, and infrastructure improvements made from these fee raises will be more pertinent to Massachusetts drivers than drivers from out of state.
The RMV will host a series of meetings to discuss the issue The Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission in Worcester hosts the first meeting Tuesday, May 20.
(see schedule below)
The public hearings process is required by RMV regulations. MassDOT sees value in asking for a response from the citizenry.
“We definitely look at the series of public outreach meetings as a chance to solicit feedback and opinions from the public,” said Sara Lavoie, Deputy Communications Director of MassDOT.
Critics To Attend Hearings
O’Brien also said the Tea Party would inform its members of the need to attend the meetings and express their concerns.
“We demand that these unjustifiable costs be reduced before there is any talk of increasing fees,” Obrien said.
Lavoie told GoLocalProv “change is always possible” and there would be a record kept of both the spoken and written comments brought forth by the public.
Meeting Schedule
Tuesday, May 20, 6pm-8pm, Central Mass. Regional Planning Commission, 2 Washington Square, 2nd Floor, Worcester
Thursday, May 22, 10am-1pm (Public hearing), State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, 3rd Floor – MBTA Board Room, Boston
Thursday, May 22, 6pm-8pm, State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, 2nd Floor Conference Rooms, Boston
Tuesday, May 27, 6pm-8pm, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 60 Congress Street, Springfield
MassDOT encourages the public to provide written comments by mail or email during the comment period. Written comments may be mailed to: MassDOT Legal Department, Regulations, RMV, 10 Park Plaza, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116. Emailed comments may be sent to: [email protected]. The comment period will close on Tuesday, May 27, 2014.
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