EDMONDS — A ballot measure that asked residents to chip in another $40 in car tab fees to pay for transportation-related road improvements trailed in early election returns late Tuesday.
Edmonds residents already pay the city $20 a year to register their cars and trucks. The city’s Transportation Benefit District board, made up of City Council members, approved that fee in 2009. The fee generates about $580,000 a year for transportation-related projects, public works director Phil Williams said. He estimated the added fee would bring in an additional $1 million a year.
Proposition 1, the board’s latest proposal, asked residents to raise the fee to $60. The increase would be in place until the projects are finished or the debt for the projects is paid off.
A sharply divided benefit district board approved the measure.
Cities can collect $20 a year from car and truck owners if they form a transportation benefit district. They must get voter approval to ask for more.
Money raised from the fees would have been used to fund 37 road and walkway projects citywide at a total cost of $62 million over 20 years.
About half the money raised in the first 10 years would have gone toward repaving city streets. State and federal grants could fill in any funding gaps.
Councilman D.J. Wilson, who led the campaign opposing the measure, said voters recognized bad policy.
“I would say Edmonds voters have a long history of supporting smart policy and wise investment and Proposition 1 did not meet those standards,” he said.
Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429; ohalpert@heraldnet.com.
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