I-695 eliminated MVET funding

The Nov. 21 letter, “Burbank wrong about MVET funds,” contained some very misleading comments. While the writer is correct that most MVET funds did not support transportation improvements before 1998, he fails to mention that Referendum 49, passed by voters statewide that year, dedicated approximately half of all Motor Vehicle Excise Tax funds to road and transit improvements.

Voters did not see any results from Referendum 49 because the very next year they approved Tim Eyman’s Initiative 695, which eliminated the MVET funding source. The letter also doesn’t mention that the MVET was an important source of funding for the state ferry system.

Mark Cotter

Bothell