Mark Harmsworth swears he voted against an initiative in November that would have established regional taxing districts to finance roadway and transportation improvements.
The Mill Creek City Councilman isn’t the only person scratching his head over local policymakers interest in creating a countywide transportation benefit district to raise money for select transportation projects.
A state law passed in 1987 and amended in 2005 grants counties the authority to establish these taxing districts, but a countywide program would have to be implemented by May 22. Once that deadline expires, cities will have the option of establishing their own taxing districts, in which vehicle registration fees of up to $20 can be imposed without voter approval.
“I thought voters were very clear about their thoughts on this issue when they voted against a similar measure just a few months ago,” Harmsworth said. “I’m not sure this is the best way to instill voter confidence in lawmakers’ handling of local tax dollars.”
The county has to meet several requirements to establish a transportation benefit district. Among them: commitments of participation by a minimum of 12 cities, the adoption of an ordinance that includes a list of all the projects and programs for which taxes would be assessed and interlocal agreements between the county and each participating city. As of Feb. 11 the county had commitments from 10 cities. Mill Creek is among several cities asking the county for more information before committing to the program.
“Cities that choose not to participate — that don’t enter into an agreement and submit a list of projects — will not be exempt from fees and taxes should the county meet its minimum requirements to implement the district,” Public Works Director Tom Gathman said. “You’d get no money for roadway improvements but your citizens would still be assessed those fees and taxes.”
Revenue could be used in Mill Creek to supplement costs associated with overlay projects, signal installations at several intersections along Seattle-Hill Road, intersection improvements at 164th Street and 9th Avenue, construction of transit shelters and other projects.
According to the Department of Licensing, Mill Creek would generate approximately $270,000 from the proposed vehicle registration fees — hardly enough money to cover big-ticket items like noise abatement and traffic flow improvements on Seattle-Hill Road, which could cost the city as much as $9 million.
“It’s not even a drop in the bucket,” City Councilwoman Donna Michelson said. “I don’t like the vehicle registration fees. People are extremely unhappy with the $30 fee already tacked on to their car tabs. Voters have spoken on this time and time again.”
Michelson said she’s frustrated to be in a position of choosing the lesser of two evils. If the council decides not to participate in protest, Mill Creek residents may still be forced to pay the fees.
“In that scenario, our residents’ hard earned money would fund transportation projects in other cities,” she said. “I’d be furious if I was paying for something that offered no benefit to my own community.”
A huge question among city leaders — not just in Mill Creek — is how the county will pay for administration of such a large undertaking.
In addition to a governing board with representatives from each participating city, oversight of the program would likely require the county to increase its staffing.
City leaders want to know what percentage of the fees and taxes collected for transportation projects would be diverted towards administrative costs.
“It’s government bureaucracy at its finest,” Harmsworth said. “The county has the money to finance these infrastructure improvements if they would simply make better use of the taxes already being collected.”
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