Please don’t flush $45 million down the drain. Vote NO on Prop. 6.

Lake County voters, please be aware of the consequences of your vote. If you repeal the gas tax, which is what Proposition 6 is intended to do, we lose out on $45 million for our road repairs. Where else are we going to get $45 million? Nowhere. The funds do not exist within Lake County budgets. Voting no on Prop 6 is our only hope for money to repair our roads.

Our Lake County Public Works director has identified specific roads scheduled for repair, provided the gas tax remains in place.

The estimated amount of money we are expected to receive from gas tax revenues is $45 million over 10 years. This Web site, www.fixcaroads.com, shows the projects. Click on Local Projects tab. For example: Repair the Bachelor Creek Bridge on SR 20 near Upper Lake in Lake County. Also, Installing sidewalks along Hartley Street in the City of Lakeport for student safety. Vote no on Prop. 6 so Lake County can get shovels in the ground for these projects!

The gas tax, which was implemented by our legislators under Senate Bill 1 (SB1), has specific language indicating what it can and can’t be used for. It will not be used for high speed rail. I saw an opinion piece published suggesting that the money could be used to give raises to California Highway Patrol officers and fund the public employees retirement systems. This is simply cynical fear-mongering and outright false.

Criticism that gas tax revenues will be raided and used for other general funds needs is actually addressed in SB 1. In the past, when cash was tight, money was borrowed from gas tax funds and transferred to the general fund. Under SB1, all moneys previously borrowed from gas tax funds will be repaid. So not only is further borrowing prohibited, all prior loans must be repaid.

Proposition 6 will only succeed in killing thousands of jobs, and our opportunity to finally fund long overdue bridge and road repairs. Vote no on Prop. 6.

Susan Cameron lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.