Critics of SF Vehicle Tax Measure Question Poll

San Francisco's Transportation Authority has approved a November ballot measure that would put a ten dollar Vehicle License Registration Tax to a public vote. The move is taking heat, because it was based on a poll that some critics say was biased.

The poll asked voters whether they would support hikes in property transfer taxes, parking takes, hotel taxes and a new rent tax. The survey showed strong support for the vehicle registration tax and opposition to the others.

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Supervisor David Chiu said the wording was bias and refused to support the vehicle tax measure.

"We have to put on tax measures that result in real revenues for general fund need, not a measure that will provide us pennies on the dollar for congestion and pollution mitigation programs and projects."

Supervisor Bevan Dufty countered that the poll was needed to justify spending 400-thousand dollars on the ballot measure.

"We have the opportunity to put a measure on the ballot that will allow us to fund programs, and include repairing local streets and roads, improving Muni's reliability."

The vehicle fee was put on the ballot but not before some questioned whether the poll was an improper use of taxpayers money.