Ride-Hailing Tax to Fund Affordable Housing on the Table in Seattle

David Kroman reports from Seattle: "Mayor Jenny Durkan announced Wednesday that she would like to raise about $25 million a year by increasing the tax on Uber and Lyft rides, revenue she said would go toward building affordable housing, closing the funding gap on the city’s new downtown streetcar and setting up a new resource for drivers to resolve disputes with the rideshare companies."

The proposal is included in Mayor Durkan's 2020-2021 budget proposal, expected for public presentation early next week. Spokespeople for ride-haling companies Uber and Lyft have spoken publically in opposition to the proposed tax. "But local labor, transportation and housing advocates cheered the move," according to Kroman.  

The new tax would be expected raise 24 million in its first year, and increasing amounts in subsequent years. According to Kroman, Seattle's ride-hailing tax would be relatively high compared to other cities that have implemented a similar policy. The article includes a lot more detail about the types of projects and programs the new tax would fund.