Two members of the Seattle City Council’s transportation committee including the group’s chair say they want to significantly change the mayor’s plans for a 0.15% Seattle sales tax increase to pay for “better-than-baseline” bus service on key lines in the city.
They’ll have time on their side in any political battles to come. To get the measure ready in time to be on the November ballot, the council has a deadline of the August 4th primary.
Committee member and downtown representative Bob Kettle who has increasingly positioned his office as a foil to Mayor Katie Wilson’s most progressive initiatives, says he will lead a charge to cap the tax increase proposal.
The mayor’s proposal would increase the sales tax by 0.15% to 0.3%. Kettle has announced a proposed amendment that would increase the sales tax “by a more affordable 0.05%.”
“A healthy transit and transportation system is absolutely essential for Seattle,” Kettle said in a statement. “However, we must spend our public dollars strategically, rather than raising the sales tax simply because we can. Every day, I hear from neighbors about how living in Seattle is becoming less and less affordable. My alternative offers a pragmatic increase in transit funding for bus service and ORCA cards while preserving the flexibility we need for emerging transit-related investments.”
CHS reported here on the proposal from Wilson that would bump the current 0.15% Seattle Transportation Benefit District sales tax up to 0.30%, generating an estimated $138 million annually. According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, annually, $96.1 million of the measure’s funding would go to increased transit service, while $23.4 million would be earmarked for the city’s struggling streetcar lines, $9 million for transit access programs including free ORCA passes, and $3.5 million for capital projects.
Additionally, $6.1 million a year would go to support Sound Transit 3 projects in the city. CHS reported here on the new plan for Sound Transit’s expansion and a package of deferrals and cuts to address a projected $34.5 billion shortfall.
Under the Wilson proposal, total sales tax in the city would reach 10.8%.
Kettle says his alternative for the 10-year plan maintains funding for bus service and 22,000 free ORCA passes while eliminating plans for capital spending that overlaps with the 2024 Transportation Levy.
Seattle voters have strongly supported the sales tax-supported transit program. 80% of Seattle voters approved the increase and the six-year package in 2020, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.
The council transportation committee’s chair, West Seattle representative Rob Saka, meanwhile, says he is also bringing a raft of amendments hoped to modify the mayor’s proposal.
Saka plans to introduce five amendments that continue his themes of emphasizing oversight and capital transportation projects. Saka’s revisions seek to increase transit safety personnel, strengthen council oversight over Metro resources, and allocate left over funds for capital investments if service constraints occur. His plan also funds electric bus service in the Duwamish Valley and South Seattle, and reduces the measure’s term to six years and nine months.
Other amendments to be considered:
- A proposal from Alexis Mercedes Rinck prioritizes transit funding for night service to support worker access and safety
- A proposal from Dan Strauss allowing contracted passenger transit spending outside of King County Metro and prioritizing connections to designated Regional Centers
- Transit Access Program: Joy Hollingsworth proposes to include participants of City-run income-verified support programs and Rinck proposes extending TAP eligibility to local trade school and apprenticeship students
- Spending Thresholds: Strauss and introduced separate amendments to raise the minimum revenue required for transit service from 60% to either 75% or 65%. Rinck’s proposal also reduces maximum capital spending from $5 million to $2 million annually while allowing contributions to Sound Transit 3 projects
- Debora Juarez has sponsored an amendment explicitly prioritizing transit infrastructure investments for individuals with disabilities
- A Dionne Foster proposal would require a written midterm evaluation by June 30, 2032, to review performance and assess if the tax rate should be maintained or reduced
- Kettle is proposing targeted reports on bus stop spacing policies, the Waterfront Shuttle pilot, and the feasibility of increasing smaller buses. Rivera requested a performance and overcrowding report for bus routes #62 and #65, as well as separate annual reporting on fare recovery
- Proposed amendments from Eddie Lin and Rinck would advocate for new state and local progressive revenue sources, reserving the council’s right to reduce the sales tax if alternative funding is secured
The city council will begin debate on the proposed amendments Monday as they meet on the Transportation Benefit District proposal Monday morning. A public hearing is set for July 13th. The council must approve a proposed package to send to voters by the August 4th primary, for the measure to be considered by voters in the November general election.
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