Facing $60 million in deficits over the next year, transportation officials in metropolitan Seattle are pushing a plan to ask voters to approve an increase in the price of registering cars in the area to create a transportation fund.
The idea could hit the ballot soon, but it could also move ahead without voter approval if there's enough support in the county council.
"State lawmakers gave county officials the authority earlier this year to charge an extra $20 for car tabs - which would provide $50 million over two years - to help Metro. That's enough, when combined with reserve funds, to largely maintain existing service, according to Metro.
The nine-member Metropolitan King County Council was also granted two options for how it might apply the financial tourniquet. By a simple majority vote, it could put the request for increased car-tab fees to the voters. Or, a supermajority of six could simply enact the new fees without going to the voters."
FULL STORY: New car-tab fee to fund buses may head to ballot
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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