Granite Falls to hike vehicle license fees by $20

GRANITE FALLS — People who live within city limits will pay $20 more to renew their car tabs starting in 2016.

The Granite Falls Transportation Benefit District met Wednesday for the first time and voted 4-0 to enact the new fee.

The five-person Granite Falls City Council created the benefit district in April and acts as the board of directors. Board member Tom FitzGerald was not at Wednesday’s meeting.

During a public hearing, two people spoke against the new fee. The city also received several letters before the meeting.

People told the board they and their neighbors didn’t have enough notice to learn about transportation benefit districts and address the new fee. With an increasing cost of living, another fee can be crippling, especially if people have more than one car to buy tabs for each year, they said.

The fee applies to most vehicles, including passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles and motor homes. It does not apply to: farm vehicles, campers, off-road vehicles, commercial trailers, government and school vehicles or vehicles registered to disabled American veterans. Starting Jan. 1, the $20 is due when new tabs are purchased from the state Department of Licensing.

Twenty dollars might not seem like much, but it’s a lot to some families, said Rebecca Duncan, who spoke during the hearing. She asked the board to consider phasing in the new cost, with a $5 fee at first, then $10, $15 and eventually $20. People would be able to adjust to it that way, she said.

“I’m all for doing my share, but you’re reaching for gold before you even got bronze,” she said.

Board members thanked people for speaking at the meeting. They’d like to see folks at other meetings, they said. People rarely talk to the City Council or tune in to city business until they have something to be angry about.

Though the vote was unanimous, the licensing fee wasn’t an easy choice to make, board members said. Without new revenue the city’s unbalanced street fund would burn through its reserve money in a matter of years, they said.

The city gets about $68,000 a year in gas taxes for street maintenance and construction. The street fund needs $120,000 to keep up with staff and materials costs for basic roadwork, city administrator and public works director Brent Kirk said. The city has been redirecting 15 percent of property tax dollars from the general fund to the street fund. In 2014, they pulled nearly $36,000 from the general fund to nudge the street fund over $100,000.

Kirk estimates the tab fee will provide about $60,000 a year. That bridges the budget gap for basic maintenance and could provide matching dollars to win grants for large projects.

The district board on Wednesday also approved a list of potential projects. Money from tab fees only can be used for maintenance or approved projects. The list looks ahead to 2020, with suggestions for new road extensions, signals and sidewalks.

The state Department of Licensing lists 45 other cities with $20 tab fees, including Everett and Lynnwood. Everett’s fee was approved last year and took effect in March. A transportation benefit district must have voter approval to enact a fee higher than $20, such as Seattle’s $80 licensing fee. They also can ask voters to approve a sales tax increase rather than a fee.

At least 22 cities in the state have transportation benefit districts that collect revenue through sales taxes or have not yet passed any funding measures. Arlington, Marysville, Stanwood and Snohomish have districts funded by sales tax. Snohomish County and Monroe have benefit districts in place but no taxes or fees.

Granite Falls doesn’t have enough of a commercial base to make a sales tax increase a good option, board members said. If the tab fee goes lower than $20, they predict the street fund would continue to dwindle.

Benefit district board meetings are open to the public and agendas will be posted under the “Documents” section of the city’s website, www.ci.granite-falls.wa.us. More information also is available at Granite Falls City Hall, 206 S Granite Ave.

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
How to donate to the family of Ariel Garcia

Everett police believe the boy’s mother, Janet Garcia, stabbed him repeatedly and left his body in Pierce County.

A ribbon is cut during the Orange Line kick off event at the Lynnwood Transit Center on Saturday, March 30, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘A huge year for transit’: Swift Orange Line begins in Lynnwood

Elected officials, community members celebrate Snohomish County’s newest bus rapid transit line.

Bethany Teed, a certified peer counselor with Sunrise Services and experienced hairstylist, cuts the hair of Eli LeFevre during a resource fair at the Carnegie Resource Center on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in downtown Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Carnegie center is a one-stop shop for housing, work, health — and hope

The resource center in downtown Everett connects people to more than 50 social service programs.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

FILE - In this Friday, March 31, 2017, file photo, Boeing employees walk the new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner down towards the delivery ramp area at the company's facility in South Carolina after conducting its first test flight at Charleston International Airport in North Charleston, S.C. Federal safety officials aren't ready to give back authority for approving new planes to Boeing when it comes to the large 787 jet, which Boeing calls the Dreamliner, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. The plane has been plagued by production flaws for more than a year.(AP Photo/Mic Smith, File)
Congress summons Boeing CEO to testify after Everett whistleblower’s claims

Sam Salehpour worked on the 787 Dreamliner but grew alarmed over changes to the assembly of the fuselage.

Harold Jones receives dialysis treatment at NW Kidney Dialysis Center on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘Silent disease’: Many have kidney disease, but don’t know till it’s too late

The illness may affect 150,000 Snohomish County residents, a local expert warned. Regular visits to a doctor are key to prevention.

A tribute to Ariel Garcia in his neighborhood on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Newly released 911 call retraces days before Ariel Garcia disappeared

Family reported Janet Garcia, of Everett, had become “very violent and aggressive” in the days prior to the death of her son, age 4.

Michael O'Leary/The Herald
Hundreds of Boeing employees get ready to lead the second 787 for delivery to ANA in a procession to begin the employee delivery ceremony in Everett Monday morning.

photo shot Monday September 26, 2011
Boeing whistleblower reports dangerous ‘shortcuts’ at Everett plant

A Boeing quality engineer claims the company ignored safety concerns in the production of the 787 and 777 jets.

Carol McKinnon, right, the mother of Taylor Druliner, and Druliner’s best friend Brecca Blas, left, stand in front of a billboard searching for the suspect in the fatal hit and run of Taylor Druliner on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mother of Lynnwood hit-and-run victim is ‘on hold with grieving’

A driver fled the scene after hitting Taylor Druliner, 30, while she tried to cross Highway 99 last month, police said.

Washington West African Center in Lynnwood hosts newcomers for Eid

Other spiritual gatherings will be held for the end of Ramadan, a monthlong Muslim holy celebration.

Firefighters extinguished a fire that displaced 5 people Monday at the St. Frances Motel in Edmonds. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Edmonds motel fire displaces 5

Firefighters kept the fire contained to one unit at the St. Francis Motel on Highway 99.

South County Fire Commissioner Ed Widdis swears in Fire Chief Bob Eastman on April 2, 2024 South County Fire).
Snohomish County’s biggest fire district has a new chief

Bob Eastman will oversee 350 firefighters at South County Fire, taking over for Chief Thad Hovis.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.