City Hall
Mike O'Brien: Why I Support the $80 License Fee
Over on his blog, city council member Mike O'Brien explains why he supposts putting the maximum possible vehicle license fee---$80 a year---on the November ballot. As we reported in Fizz
this morning, council members have proposed various license fees for the ballot, ranging from a $40 fee with little funding for bikes or transit (Jean Godden), to a middle-ground $60 proposal heavily weighted toward bikes and transit (Tom Rasmussen) to O'Brien's $80 proposal.
Responding to critics who say the fee will have a disproportionate impact on the very poor, O'Brien notes that of the 18 percent of Seattle households below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, nearly half---40 percent---do not own a car, and another 39 percent own just one car per household. Twenty-one percent had two cars or more. In comparison, 15 percent of all Seattle households had no cars, and 43 percent had at least one. Forty-two percent had two cars or more, or twice the percentage of those making less than 150 percent of the poverty level. Far from falling disproportionately on the poor, the fee wouldn't even impact nearly half of those making 150 percent of poverty.
As for poor people who do own cars, O'Brien notes,
they are likely spending significant portions of their income to own and operate their car. For these folks, smart investments that would make transit use more accessible could allow them to reduce the amount of income they spend on their vehicle. ...
"I know we are in a sustained recession and I know many families in Seattle are struggling week to week to get by. But I also know those families are more likely to rely on public transit and can benefit from the projects that this new revenue will bring Seattle. And having looked at the numbers and thinking about the projects we could fund, I fully believe that $80 is the right amount to ask of voters—even in these difficult economic times."
The city council, meeting as the Transportation Benefits District board, will discuss the three proposals this afternoon around 2:30, in council chambers.
Responding to critics who say the fee will have a disproportionate impact on the very poor, O'Brien notes that of the 18 percent of Seattle households below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, nearly half---40 percent---do not own a car, and another 39 percent own just one car per household. Twenty-one percent had two cars or more. In comparison, 15 percent of all Seattle households had no cars, and 43 percent had at least one. Forty-two percent had two cars or more, or twice the percentage of those making less than 150 percent of the poverty level. Far from falling disproportionately on the poor, the fee wouldn't even impact nearly half of those making 150 percent of poverty.
As for poor people who do own cars, O'Brien notes,
they are likely spending significant portions of their income to own and operate their car. For these folks, smart investments that would make transit use more accessible could allow them to reduce the amount of income they spend on their vehicle. ...
"I know we are in a sustained recession and I know many families in Seattle are struggling week to week to get by. But I also know those families are more likely to rely on public transit and can benefit from the projects that this new revenue will bring Seattle. And having looked at the numbers and thinking about the projects we could fund, I fully believe that $80 is the right amount to ask of voters—even in these difficult economic times."
The city council, meeting as the Transportation Benefits District board, will discuss the three proposals this afternoon around 2:30, in council chambers.
