Published: Monday, March 19, 2007
Senator proposes college sales tax
The bill, which won't be considered by the Legislature this year, would raise Snohomish County's sales tax to fund a new university.
OLYMPIA - Shoppers in Snohomish County could help finance construction of a four-year college, a Lake Stevens legislator suggested.
Democratic Sen. Steve Hobbs put forth a bill to create a special district that would, with voter approval, raise the county sales tax and spend the new revenue on designing and building a comprehensive university.
He introduced the bill Friday. That's too late for consideration this session but plenty early for igniting a debate leading into next year on a potential mode of generating money for construction.
"This is one tool. This is an opportunity for the people in the community to say, 'Maybe this is a possible way to fund it,' " he said.
The bill calls for the Snohomish County Council to create a nine-member authority. This board would seek voter approval of an increase of up to two-tenths of one cent in the sales or use tax levied in the county.
And this board could negotiate to expand the district boundaries to include Island and Skagit counties. Then voters in those counties would be asked to approve similar sales tax increases.
A state study done last year found the three-county region lacks enough higher education options.
Gov. Chris Gregoire's capital budget proposes to spend $2 million to decide what type of institution can best serve the region, how to run it and where to build it.
Hobbs is one of four senators pushing the Senate to double that amount in order to buy options on land to establish an independent university focused on engineering and computer science studies.
Typically, those opposed to a four-year college said it is too costly to build and would require siphoning money from other higher education institutions.
"If the citizens of Skagit, Island and Snohomish counties vote for a sales tax hike, it will relieve the angst of the other colleges and universities," said Sen. Jean Berkey, a co-sponsor of the legislation.
"It says we have an alternative means of providing financing for the capital side of the project," she said.
Under the bill, the state must still fund the operation of the college.
On Monday, the House of Representatives will roll out its capital budget plan. Snohomish County representatives are seeking $2 million for a master plan as suggested by the governor.
For weeks, some representatives worked to focus those dollars into a plan for a branch campus of the University of Washington. They wrote language to this effect for inclusion in the spending plan. It was not known Friday if it would be included.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Democratic Sen. Steve Hobbs put forth a bill to create a special district that would, with voter approval, raise the county sales tax and spend the new revenue on designing and building a comprehensive university.
He introduced the bill Friday. That's too late for consideration this session but plenty early for igniting a debate leading into next year on a potential mode of generating money for construction.
"This is one tool. This is an opportunity for the people in the community to say, 'Maybe this is a possible way to fund it,' " he said.
The bill calls for the Snohomish County Council to create a nine-member authority. This board would seek voter approval of an increase of up to two-tenths of one cent in the sales or use tax levied in the county.
And this board could negotiate to expand the district boundaries to include Island and Skagit counties. Then voters in those counties would be asked to approve similar sales tax increases.
A state study done last year found the three-county region lacks enough higher education options.
Gov. Chris Gregoire's capital budget proposes to spend $2 million to decide what type of institution can best serve the region, how to run it and where to build it.
Hobbs is one of four senators pushing the Senate to double that amount in order to buy options on land to establish an independent university focused on engineering and computer science studies.
Typically, those opposed to a four-year college said it is too costly to build and would require siphoning money from other higher education institutions.
"If the citizens of Skagit, Island and Snohomish counties vote for a sales tax hike, it will relieve the angst of the other colleges and universities," said Sen. Jean Berkey, a co-sponsor of the legislation.
"It says we have an alternative means of providing financing for the capital side of the project," she said.
Under the bill, the state must still fund the operation of the college.
On Monday, the House of Representatives will roll out its capital budget plan. Snohomish County representatives are seeking $2 million for a master plan as suggested by the governor.
For weeks, some representatives worked to focus those dollars into a plan for a branch campus of the University of Washington. They wrote language to this effect for inclusion in the spending plan. It was not known Friday if it would be included.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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