GeneralPublic Comment
From: Michelle Schumacher <
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2021 11:38 AM
To: Michelle Schumacher
Subject: Public Comments for the Next Meeting
I ask for your support in reducing a significant tax on all residents that often times goes unnoticed.
Are you aware that the Transportation Corridor Agency ("TCA") has taxed OC homeowners to the
tune of $754 Million Dollars since is was established in 1987. This tax comes in the form of
Development Fees that are assessed on new residential & commercial properties built or remodeled
in OC.
The TCA Formed in 1987 with the explicit purpose of constructing the Toll Roads.
At the time that the TCA was established bonds were issued to pay for construction of these the
Toll Roads.
The promise made by the TCA at the time was that the debt taken on by the TCA for construction
of these new Toll Roads would be paid off through a combination of Development Fees & Tolls
collected.
100% of the debt was to be paid off and the Toll Roads were supposed to become Freeways after
30 years.
The TCA has horribly mismanaged & squandered these silent taxes paid for by your constituents.
Not only are the Toll Roads not Freeways, but the TCA is still owes over $4.7 BILLION for
construction. This is a dereliction of duty & a travesty for OC Taxpayers.
By the time the bonds are repaid it will cost 11 Billion - the debt is going in the WRONG
direction.
The TCAs new Vision Plan demonstrates serious mission creep and is trying to become a regional
bank.
It is time to the TCA solely focus on paying down the bonds, instead of driving up housing & the
cost of business with these empty toll roads.
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Please make them pay down the bonds and get traffic moving.
OCTA & Caltrans can do what is needed there is no need for this redundant wasteful agency. Tax
payers deserve better. The TCA spends hundreds of Millions of Dollars regularly on contracts
outside of our state, if they want Orange County Tax payers to be able to afford the ever increasing
tolls they need to be more mindful and keep the money in California. Stop the hemorrhage to
taxpayers with these economically discriminating toll roads.
Thank you
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