By Kate Reardon
Herald Writer
Voters will decide Tuesday whether to support Proposition 1 from Community Transit, which asks voters in most of Snohomish County for a 0.3 cents per dollar sales tax increase.
The increase, which covers most of the county except the city of Everett, would pay an estimated $17.5 million to $18 million into CT in 2002. CT operates on a $53 million annual budget and runs 19 local routes and 33 commuter routes.
The bulk of money raised through the additional tax would go to operations, said Joyce Olson, CT executive director. Transit officials said they could increase their service up to 15 percent during the next six years by adding things such as vanpools, park-and-ride lots and bringing back most Sunday service.
Officials say if voters turn down the measure, CT would have to make further cuts in service.
"We would have to cut the equivalent of Saturday service, plus 5 percent," said Tom Pearce, CT spokesman.
How those services would change would be up to the board, he added.
If approved, the increase would give much of Snohomish County the highest sales tax rate in the state, at 8.9 cents per dollar.
Supporters of the proposition estimate the tax increase would cost an average household $45 a year.
Opposing the proposal is Washington Citizens for a Sound Economy.
"We’re opposed to this measure because we believe there is a better way," said Gary Strannigan, director of the group. "CT has done a horrible job managing its cost structure."
Strannigan said he believes CT is trying to use scare tactics of cutting service to get people to vote for the tax.
"I think they could answer a lot of their operational questions by looking at Everett Transit," said Strannigan, adding that he would be willing to work with others and the agency to find a solution without raising taxes.
Olson disagreed with Strannigan, saying CT is simply a different kind of agency than ET.
"We carry a lot more people than they do," Olson said. "It’s a real different kind of service."
You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455
or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.
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