Our senior editor testified at transportation committee that while a sales tax has a regressive incidence, it's even more regressive to cut transit and abandon climate action. Supports all amendments but #2. #STBD
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The loss of the vehicle license fee (car tabs) due to I-976 legal wranglings has blown a hole in the normal TBD transit funding.
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Renewing the TBD at a doubled 0.2% sales tax would help plug the hole until we get more progressive funding sources. Thanks to for seeking to keep transit whole!
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"We heard the call to increase the emphasis on transit service even more," transportation chair Alex Pedersen said.
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More transit service has been the consensus from and our own coverage. The Mayor's proposal represented a 75% cut over existing STBD bus service levels.
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All 8 councilmembers present approved an amendment diverting more money to bus service hours by capping capital spending in the STBD. #STBD
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You may recall, proposed $58 million in cuts to SDOT's budget so pouring a few million back into potholes seems like a gimmick and pathetic consolation prize.
We can hope that the environment to pass major progressive funding for transit is much better in 2024. But we can hardly count on it.
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Now the amendment to restrict it to 4 years instead of 6. After a question from Herbold, Calvin Chow is explaining that the council could keep it at 6 and then vote to stop collecting the sales tax in the event of a countywide measure. So, maybe this amendment isn't a good idea.
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Alex Pedersen may actually be making a good point here. A four year STBD measure would create a fiscal cliff in 2024 (if a countywide measure fails that year) and less leverage with .
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The amendment shortening STBD measure from six years to four passes 5-3. Juarez, Pedersen, and Strauss were the nos. #STBD
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Wait I believe it was actually been Herbold not Strauss that voted no, despite Strauss's early lean against 4 years.
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Amendments requiring majority of STBD revenue to be spend on bus service (as it should be) and allowing more money to be spend outside Seattle if it's in low-income areas both passed unanimously. #STBD