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News Tribune: Failure of Pierce County Transit Tax Could Mean 35 Percent Cuts to Service
The Tacoma News Tribune's Political Buzz blog reports
on the failure of a sales tax for transit in Pierce County, meant to forestall a 35 percent reduction in Pierce Transit bus service, last night. Anti-tax crusader Tim Eyman says the vote---55 to 45 percent---signals a general "no new taxes" sentiment in the state.
But the News Tribune 's Kris Sherman says that "whether the no vote on the transit tax increase in Pierce County in the all-mail election conducted Tuesday indicates a complete anti-tax sentiment is debatable. There were plenty of people - most notably the Proposition 1 opponents - who said the issue was as much about what they believe is poor management of the transit agency as it was with higher taxes."
"Pierce Transit board members will meet Feb. 28 to talk about what's next. The agency's proposed reduction plan calls for slashing bus service by 35 percent within a year because its sales tax base has been crushed by the recession."
The proposal passed in Tacoma, but failed in the exurbs, Puyallup, and Gig Harbor.
Meanwhile, the state House transportation committee will meet this afternoon and take testimony on legislation proposed by Rep. Marko Liias (D-21) (and cosponsored by 30 Democrats and one Republican ) that would allow King County Metro to charge a temporary (two-year) $30 vehicle license fee to help backfill its budget shortfall. Representatives of King County, including Republican Jane Hague, will testify in favor of the bill this afternoon; Eyman will testify against.
But the News Tribune 's Kris Sherman says that "whether the no vote on the transit tax increase in Pierce County in the all-mail election conducted Tuesday indicates a complete anti-tax sentiment is debatable. There were plenty of people - most notably the Proposition 1 opponents - who said the issue was as much about what they believe is poor management of the transit agency as it was with higher taxes."
"Pierce Transit board members will meet Feb. 28 to talk about what's next. The agency's proposed reduction plan calls for slashing bus service by 35 percent within a year because its sales tax base has been crushed by the recession."
The proposal passed in Tacoma, but failed in the exurbs, Puyallup, and Gig Harbor.
Meanwhile, the state House transportation committee will meet this afternoon and take testimony on legislation proposed by Rep. Marko Liias (D-21) (and cosponsored by 30 Democrats and one Republican ) that would allow King County Metro to charge a temporary (two-year) $30 vehicle license fee to help backfill its budget shortfall. Representatives of King County, including Republican Jane Hague, will testify in favor of the bill this afternoon; Eyman will testify against.
