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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Get Ready to Vote on an $80 License Fee for Transportation

City Hall   July 11, 2011 at 1:15 pm Erica C. Barnett

City council transportation chair Tom Rasmussen sent around a letter to his fellow this morning outlining a schedule for the Seattle Transportation Benefit District board to come up with a proposal to put an $80 vehicle license fee (VLF) on the November ballot. Last week, as we reported, the group charged with recommending a package of transportation investments to the council—the Citizens Transportation Advisory Board III, pronounced “Seatac Three”—released a proposal that includes major investments in new bike and pedestrian improvements, transit infrastructure, and basic maintenance.

By officially scheduling formal meetings to discuss the recommendations, Rasmussen is effectively endorsing a November vote—something insiders initially deemed extremely unlikely. In his letter to council members, Rasmussen wrote,

Given our increasing transportation infrastructure needs and an urgency to address the numerous mobility challenges that Seattle residents are facing, I am proposing that we convene the STBD Board in July and August to consider CTAC-III’s likely recommendation to place a  ballot measure for transportation investments before the voters this November.  CTAC III has accelerated their work in order to forward a recommendation to us by July 15 in order to give us time to evaluate their proposal.

The city has until August 16 to forward a measure to the county elections department for the November 8 ballot. The council’s first meeting to discuss a potential ballot measure will be Monday, July 18, right after the regular 2:00 full council meeting.

 


  • Thom

    The biggest winner from the package as proposed: Paul Allen.  

  • Thom

    The biggest winner from the package as proposed: Paul Allen.  

  • When will they learn?

    I would think that starting with something smaller, say $20 would be smarter.  $80 will fail miserably.  

    Anyone remember the way they calculated the Monorail tax that we all voted in favor of?  Its not based on what your vehicle is worth in a standard and understandable fashion, but an invented depreciation schedule that catches everyone by surprise.  I recall my humble little Mazda being “valued” at roughly $5000 more than blue book.

    Also after the Monorail tax went into effect, the budget folks had a head slapping year when they realized they weren’t getting anywhere close to the revenue predicted because anyone who had the ability to, registered their vehicles at some other address out of the city limits.

    When will they learn?

  • Mahoots

    Put it in the gas tax. The more you drive the more you pay for maintaining the roads and subsidizing those who lessen their road use by choosing “lighter” transportation alternatives. A flat fee doesn’t take into consideration either the value of the vehicle being “taxed” or the miles that vehicle burdens the infrastructure. Gas is something all drivers have to consume. And if revenue from gas taxes goes down due to better vehicle fuel efficiency and/or more folks choosing transportation alternatives, raise the gas tax rate so we maintain the infrastructure – roads, sidewalks, bike lanes and mass transit. And for the record I’m a driver, biker and bus rider and am happy to pay my fair share. I just think the fairest share to be paid is assessed at the gas pump.

  • Johns

    This is *not* a MVET based on value. It’s a straight-up charge on a per-vehicle basis. I am sure some people will do as you suggest and register their vehicle(s) elsewhere. But given the tools the City has available in terms of funding, there are really no other practical alternatives but the VLF.

  • Johns

    I agree with you. You just need to get Olympia to agree too.

  • Trevor

    Why?

  • Trevor

    Why?

  • Trevor

    Any polling on this, by the city or otherwise?

  • Trevor

    Any polling on this, by the city or otherwise?

  • Billy
  • Big Jim Slade

    So then you won’t mind when that gas increase is also passed down in the form of increased fees for mass transit, right?

  • Thom

    As much money goes to grow the SLUT system as goes to bike, pedestrian and neighborhood projects combined. 

  • Anonymous

    Because he rides the bus all the time, duh.

  • gohuskies

    They’ve already increased Metro fares 80%

  • jimu

    My guess is that they want to tax electric cars as well as gas powered. Also, as gas prices go higher, people drive less, thus decreasing revenues.

  • repete

    80$ To compensate Seattle’s lack of insight, hind sight
    and foresight

  • repete

    80$ To compensate Seattle’s lack of insight, hind sight
    and foresight

  • My Vote Still Only Counts Once

    Mahoots – how many times a month do you fill your tank ? Live in the City maybe and work downtown ? By the way, ever wonder how those wonderful items in the stores you frequent get there ? Wonder why they cost more than they did last year ? The cost of fuel impacts every facet of your life. It’s not what is the direct cost to me at the pump – it’s also what is the impact on things I eat and wear. By the way, I live in the City and work downtown and fill my tank about once a month. I have an 11 year old mini-van with 88,000 miles on it and I think raising the gas tax is a bad idea.

  • Anonymous

    So between the County, and now Seattle City….it’s up to$100. Backdoor taxes are exactly that, and of course gotta have it…..

    Keep electing the same, and you’ll get more of the same…enjoy the hell out of the ‘additional services’ there Seattle!

  • Anonymous

    So between the County, and now Seattle City….it’s up to$100. Backdoor taxes are exactly that, and of course gotta have it…..

    Keep electing the same, and you’ll get more of the same…enjoy the hell out of the ‘additional services’ there Seattle!

  • Background

    There is a local option gas tax available.  It must be county wide and it must go to road purposes.  In King County it would yield about $38 million per year.  For info see here: http://www.leg.wa.gov/JTC/trm/Pages/TransportationResourceManualFebruary2011Update.aspx

  • http://profiles.google.com/jeffw66seattle Jeff Welch

    If McGinn and/or the Council pushes this – it would raise the license fee for Seattle residents to over $130.00 – killing the bus measure as well.

  • SEATTLETUNNELCAT

    Backdoor taxes means you’re getting it in the ass

  • SEATTLETUNNELCAT

    Backdoor taxes means you’re getting it in the ass

  • SEATTLETUNNELCAT

    Backdoor taxes means you’re getting it in the ass

  • do the math

    people who chear on their taxes are cheats.

    the monorail tax was free for the 25% of adults without a car.  This includes those too poor, the disabled, those who don’t have a car by choice, and probably included a few of the rich people who broke the law and cheated by registering their car at their cabin on whidbey, comtiting perjury to do it. 

    75% of adults in seattle paid $200 a  year or less.   the anecdote you describe is basically false; unless what you’re complaining about is the very slight nonconformity of the DOL tables at the time with blue book.  Let’s say your $15,000 mazda miata was incorrectly valued at $20,000.  Okay, you had a legit gripe.  But the leg was going to fix that and then it did.  And anyway your gripe is you had to pay an extra $100 a year?  dude, you are paying an extra $100 a year today from the king county property tax for the ferries which they then took and put to busses, you are paying probably $5,000 a year in property taxes and $15,000 a year in federal taxes and $4000 a year in sales tax.  Some of those taxes have some unfairness built in.  Sorry, life sucks, whine, moan, there is no tax system that is perfectly logical.  doesn’t your kid cost you more than the standard credit for a kid?  boo hoo life is unfair.  75% of seattleites paid $200 a year or less and the notion the monorail tax was too onerous is absurd.  it was too low! 

  • Anonymous

    “MOBILITY CHALLENGED RESIDENTS?!!!”

    We really need a separate new department to help those poor mobility challenged folks.