Keep Everett Transit but increase city sales tax

Published 1:30 am Thursday, July 29, 2021

There is one reason and one reason only that Community Transit wants to absorb Everett Transit. Community Transit wants to collect sales taxes generated by nearly 110,000 Everett residents. Any other reason given for decommissioning Everett Transit is just marketing to gain your vote. It is time to put an end to this decades-long cycle of will or won’t Everett Transit continue to exist. There is a Solomonic solution to bring this debate to an end.

Everett Transit should continue as the city’s independent bus and paratransit system within city boundaries. It would operate a feeder system to increased corridor service provided by Community Transit. A measure could be written and voted upon that would increase transit’s sales tax rate in Everett to the prevailing CT rate (1.2%). Everett Transit would draw no less than its current .06%. The balance collected would go to Community Transit.

This could satisfy those who want substantial local service and those who want a regional system. This solution would allow Everett Transit to streamline routes while bringing service back to the neighborhoods.

Everett having a local transit system is the envy of other cities. The costs today of initiating such a system are prohibitive. Why would Everett give up an asset that has contributed to its identity for over a century?

Don Shagam

Lake Stevens