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Licata Proposes Replacement for "Head Tax"

News   November 12, 2009 at 3:58 pm Erica C. Barnett

Nick Licata has proposed replacing the so-called “head tax,” which the city council repealed earlier today, by dedicating revenues from mobile speed vans to pedestrian safety projects. Currently, money from speed-van tickets goes to the city’s general fund; Licata estimates that the change could increase the city’s funding for pedestrian safety to $15 million a year.

The city is also asking the legislature for a change to state law that would allow speed vans in areas other than school zones, to which they’re currently restricted.

If Licata’s proposal sounds familiar, that’s because it’s strikingly similar to an earlier proposal by council member Tim Burgess to replace the head tax with a “dedicated revenue source.” However, Burgess, unlike Licata, hasn’t actually proposed any legislation. Burgess hasn’t yet returned a call for more detail on what became of his head-tax replacement proposal.


  • Stacy

    This seems like a shell game; what happens to the $15 million we’ll lose from the speed cameras in the general fund? What will we have to cut? That being said, kudos to Licata for proposing a dedicated funding stream for pedestrian safety.

  • Stacy

    This seems like a shell game; what happens to the $15 million we’ll lose from the speed cameras in the general fund? What will we have to cut? That being said, kudos to Licata for proposing a dedicated funding stream for pedestrian safety.

  • Stacy

    This seems like a shell game; what happens to the $15 million we’ll lose from the speed cameras in the general fund? What will we have to cut? That being said, kudos to Licata for proposing a dedicated funding stream for pedestrian safety.

  • misha

    How about reinstating the head tax?

  • misha

    How about reinstating the head tax?

  • misha

    How about reinstating the head tax?

  • justin

    What’s a mobile speed van?

  • justin

    What’s a mobile speed van?

  • justin

    What’s a mobile speed van?

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @3,
    A van that sets up shop in problem traffic spots, taking pics to capture speeders.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @3,
    A van that sets up shop in problem traffic spots, taking pics to capture speeders.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @3,
    A van that sets up shop in problem traffic spots, taking pics to capture speeders.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr.Baker

    How about having Vulcan pay more for their SLU project, and we redirect those sidewalk funds to sidewalks for the rest of us, for festivus.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr.Baker

    How about having Vulcan pay more for their SLU project, and we redirect those sidewalk funds to sidewalks for the rest of us, for festivus.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr.Baker

    How about having Vulcan pay more for their SLU project, and we redirect those sidewalk funds to sidewalks for the rest of us, for festivus.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr.Baker

    Bicycle tax to fund bicycle lanes.

    I saved that one from a Bruce Ramsey, always a source of comedy.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr.Baker

    Bicycle tax to fund bicycle lanes.

    I saved that one from a Bruce Ramsey, always a source of comedy.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr.Baker

    Bicycle tax to fund bicycle lanes.

    I saved that one from a Bruce Ramsey, always a source of comedy.

  • johnmocha

    Sounds like a good idea

  • johnmocha

    Sounds like a good idea

  • morning fizzy

    Perhaps it’s not surprising, but the safest cities for walking and biking have many miles of bike lanes or sidewalks. According to the report, the top five safest metro areas are Minneapolis, Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and Seattle.

  • morning fizzy

    Perhaps it’s not surprising, but the safest cities for walking and biking have many miles of bike lanes or sidewalks. According to the report, the top five safest metro areas are Minneapolis, Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and Seattle.

  • johnmocha

    Sounds like a good idea

  • morning fizzy

    Perhaps it’s not surprising, but the safest cities for walking and biking have many miles of bike lanes or sidewalks. According to the report, the top five safest metro areas are Minneapolis, Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and Seattle.

  • LH

    For any of you wonks interested in this policy stuff, here (below) is a link to the current model law of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances. Note that this model law is for all automated traffic law enforcement revenue. Nick’s proposal at this particular point is only for revenue from the speed cameras in school zones. Some out there could actually *help* us expand the amount of revenue available to dedicate more revenue to ped master plan and expanding to bike master plan funding efforts by helping to argue that the Council should also use revenue collected from the redlight cameras too.
    http://www.ncutlo.org/autoenforce622.htm

  • LH

    For any of you wonks interested in this policy stuff, here (below) is a link to the current model law of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances. Note that this model law is for all automated traffic law enforcement revenue. Nick’s proposal at this particular point is only for revenue from the speed cameras in school zones. Some out there could actually *help* us expand the amount of revenue available to dedicate more revenue to ped master plan and expanding to bike master plan funding efforts by helping to argue that the Council should also use revenue collected from the redlight cameras too.
    http://www.ncutlo.org/autoenforce622.htm

  • LH

    For any of you wonks interested in this policy stuff, here (below) is a link to the current model law of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances. Note that this model law is for all automated traffic law enforcement revenue. Nick’s proposal at this particular point is only for revenue from the speed cameras in school zones. Some out there could actually *help* us expand the amount of revenue available to dedicate more revenue to ped master plan and expanding to bike master plan funding efforts by helping to argue that the Council should also use revenue collected from the redlight cameras too.
    http://www.ncutlo.org/autoenforce622.htm

  • LH

    BTW – this is not a new program. It was authorized by Council in April 2008:
    http://www.seattle.gov/council/licata/up/253.htm

    Funded by Council in 2007
    http://www.seattle.gov/council/newsdetail.asp?ID=7676&Dept=28

    The issue is that the revenue just goes into the general fund, rather than – like many cities – earmarked for traffic safety purposes.

  • LH

    BTW – this is not a new program. It was authorized by Council in April 2008:
    http://www.seattle.gov/council/licata/up/253.htm

    Funded by Council in 2007
    http://www.seattle.gov/council/newsdetail.asp?ID=7676&Dept=28

    The issue is that the revenue just goes into the general fund, rather than – like many cities – earmarked for traffic safety purposes.

  • LH

    BTW – this is not a new program. It was authorized by Council in April 2008:
    http://www.seattle.gov/council/licata/up/253.htm

    Funded by Council in 2007
    http://www.seattle.gov/council/newsdetail.asp?ID=7676&Dept=28

    The issue is that the revenue just goes into the general fund, rather than – like many cities – earmarked for traffic safety purposes.