The City Council’s transportation committee Tuesday morning is discussing legislation that would create a new tax district in the city to help fund Seattle’s road and mass transit projects. Chair Tom Rasmussen’s proposal in Council bill 116947 would create a new district covering the entirety of the city. While tax increases for property owners and residents within the city would require voter approval, some elements like a $20 increase in car tabs could be put into place by the Council without a vote.
Publicola reports that the city is also considering higher parking taxes to help pay for Seattle transportation and road projects.
The Seattle Department of Transportation is facing an even more bleak financial future than the rest of the city. The department has depleted reserve budget earlier than expected as unbudgeted expenses have the department facing additional cuts beyond the impacts of the city’s general fund issues. SDOT faces a nearly $10 million shortfall in 2010. The story doesn’t get much better in 2011.
One benefit of an improvement in SDOT’s finances could be an increased ability for the city to work with Sound Transit on the plan to extend the Broadway portion of the streetcar so that it terminates near Roy instead of between Denny and John which is the current planned terminus. People close to the discussions between Seattle City Hall and Sound Transit about funding the study and eventual construction of the proposed extension say increased revenues could give SDOT the resources it would need to strike a deal with Sound Transit to include a study of the Broadway extension in the project.
I worry that “Transportation Benefit District” would just end up in SDOTs big black money hole instead of going to the street car extension.
“Sorry we didn’t raise enough to pay for the street car you wanted since we are short on cash from our other taxes. But! We did paint some more sharrows in your neighborhood with the TBD funds. Those are far more important than actual transportation related things.”
You’re right, that’s why it’s up to us in this neighborhood to advocate for a more targeted and effective use of these funds, including the streetcar extension and focused pedestrian and bike improvements.