IA Towns upset that state might take their Scamera money!

(thanks to www.motorists.org for the link)

http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-traffic-cam-money-122211,0,1299243.story

ROAD REVENUE: Should cities get the money from red light and speed cameras or should revenue go to the state?

Jannay Towne
 
Reporter
 
December 22, 2011
Police say traffic cameras are about public safety, but there are others who believe it's more about making money. Either way, red light and speed cameras are generating cash. The question raised now is should cities get to keep the money or should it go to the state?

"These cameras were extremely controversial, but when they were put in we were assured that it was for public safety and wasn't a revenue enhancer to pad these cities budgets," says Tim Albrecht, Governor Branstad's spokesperson.

Today, the Governor weighted in on a plan to take the revenue from the city and put it directly into the state`s Road Use Tax Fund.

"[Branstad] believes that the revenues from these speed cameras and red light cameras should come into the road use tax fund to ensure that we have safe and supportive roads and bridges," says Albrecht.

"The initial reaction would be concern," says Des Moines Deputy City Manager Allen McKinley.

McKinley says the money isn't padding their budget. The city is using to the cash from the cameras to plug a multimillion dollar deficit.

"If it's taken in from those select cities and then allocated out to all the cities in Iowa, I think it would be a bit of challenge for us to be kept whole," he says.

Des Moines leaders are considering using the cash from the cameras to reduce cuts to police and fire, public works, or using it to lower the rate of the proposed property tax increase.

"Right now our roads and bridges are facing a critical shortage so this is very much a public safety issue," says Albrecht.
Copyright © 2011, WHO-TV

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