Everett Transit to have tax-hike meetings

EVERETT – Everett Transit is having 15 public meetings in the next several weeks to give voters more details about a proposed tax hike for the agency.

Proposition 1 on the Sept. 14 primary election ballot would increase Everett’s share of the local sales tax from 0.3 percent to 0.6 percent. If voters approve the referendum, retail customers in Everett would pay a tax of 8.6 cents per dollar rather than the current 8.3 cents.

“This is an opportunity to provide citizens with as much information as possible to make a decision,” said Paul Kaftanski, director of Everett Transit.

By law, agency employees cannot use the meetings to actively lobby residents to vote for the tax increase. Instead, two or three agency employees will give a brief presentation and answer voters’ questions with facts and figures, Kaftanski said.

The city had initially planned to hold two large forums on the tax, one downtown and one in south Everett. But the range of times and locations of the 15 meetings gives residents more opportunities to attend, Kaftanski said.

The first meeting was Tuesday night at Zion Lutheran Church in South Forest Park.

The following meetings are scheduled:

* 5:30-8 p.m. Monday, Fire Station No. 4, 5920 Glenwood Blvd.

* 1:30-5 p.m. Tuesday, Floral Hall in Forest Park, 802 Mukilteo Blvd.

* 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Bethany of the Northwest, 916 Pacific Ave.

* 12:30-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, Baker View Heights, 2605 15th St.

* 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, Legion Hall, 145 Alverson Blvd.

* 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, Everett Public Library main branch, 2702 Hoyt Ave.

* 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, Broadway Plaza, 3020 Broadway.

* 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, Everett Public Library Evergreen branch, 9512 Evergreen Way.

* 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, Everett Senior Center, 3025 Lombard Ave.

* 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, Everett Public Library Evergreen branch, 9512 Evergreen Way.