State Reps Weigh In on Transportation Finance

Two of Westborough's three state representatives voted against the $500 million state transportation finance bill that would increase the town's transportation funding by $412,143 for the fiscal year starting this July 1.

The House approved the legislation by a 97-55 vote Monday night, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

"That margin would fall just shy, however, of the necessary votes to override a threatened veto by Gov. Deval Patrick, who says the bill won’t do enough to repair and upgrade the state’s aging transportation infrastructure," the AP reported.

The plan calls for Westborough to get $1,236,429 in state transportation funding for fiscal year 2014, up from $824,286 this year.

Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) said Tuesday she supported the bill, and that it "will increase funding to our towns for road repair and address concerns about state reliance on debt."

"Despite support for the plan by many business groups, my vote in favor of the plan was not easy; it required supporting a 3 cent per gallon gas tax increase and additional taxes on tobacco and commercial interests that will affect residents and local businesses in all of our towns," Dykema, who represents Westborough Precinct 2, said in a press release.

Rep. Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough), who represents Westborough Precincts 1 and 3, said she opposed the legislation because “I just don’t think it’s the right time for our residents to have an increase in the gas tax, and that’s what I was hearing from them overwhelmingly.”

Rep. Matthew Beaton (R-Shrewsbury), who represents Westborough Precincts 4 and 5, said he voted against the bill because “It’s not the right plan."

"This is one that’s not getting reported very accurately," Beaton said, adding that "$161 million of the 500 million is a computer services sales tax. For the first time, we are now going to be providing a sales tax to a service that somebody’s going to be providing.”