One more mention: City vote for Metro money? Public hearing tonight

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

No time today for a calendar preview – you can browse our full calendar any time – but one event tonight does need one more mention: A public hearing about bus funding, and whether the city should be going to the ballot with a proposal to raise money for it. That hearing is tonight, 5:30 pm, at City Hall, with the City Council wearing its collective Seattle Transportation Benefit District hat. Chairing the STBD, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has proposed sending the mayor’s proposal to voters, but the question now is, what do you think? From the city’s reminder:

The STBD is interested in hearing public feedback on the following:

1) How would planned Metro Transit service cuts impact you if no action is taken to prevent these cuts?

2) What is your perspective on an additional vehicle license fee of up to $60 and a 0.1% sales and use tax to prevent planned Metro Transit service cuts in Seattle, and if funds allow, to enhance transit service?

3) What other information should the Board take into consideration as it develops a potential ballot measure for the November election?

The deadline to get something on that ballot is August 5th.

sittingbird June 26, 2014 (2:35 pm)

How convenient its tonight? When did this information become public? I guess no ones gonna be there.

WSB June 26, 2014 (2:49 pm)

One week ago:
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https://westseattleblog.com/2014/06/next-step-for-potential-seattle-only-metro-money-ballot-measure-public-hearing-next-week
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and any other publication that thought it important enough to publish … TR

AmandaKH June 26, 2014 (3:42 pm)

Just a heads up. The West Seattle Transportation Coalition will be there speaking tonight. Here is the text of our comments, delivered by our Chair Joe Szilagyi:
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“On May fifteenth the West Seattle Transportation Coalition conducted a poll of all methods available to the City for funding buses in a local alternative to the Proposition One measure. The poll had over twelve hundred responses. We gave the results to Mayor Murray and all nine members of the City Council, and they’re posted on our website, westseattletc.org.
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In order, Commercial parking taxes, gasoline taxes, property taxes and then the car tab fee were most desirable. Sales taxes, business taxes, and taxes on restaurant bills and entertainment were unpopular. The unpopular taxes EACH had less than half the support of any other taxes. Some of these can be passed by the City Council WITHOUT any public ballot vote.
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Voters seem to want a balanced package of progressive funding options instead of just car tabs and sales taxes.
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Your job is to protect the largest number of residents first and foremost. That means putting a measure before voters with the maximum odds of passage. You can increase the odds by partially funding the Metro shortfall directly, so we vote on a smaller package.
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The City Council needs to give us options with the maximum likelihood of success as your one and ONLY consideration. The decision should NOT be pre-made in Executive Session or in the Mayor’s office.
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The outcome is the direct responsibility of the City Council, to be owned by you, for better or worse. There is not a single scenario where this vote failing is acceptable. None. This is your only chance. Your Council votes have consequences.
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Thank you.”

Timing June 26, 2014 (3:47 pm)

Here’s a discussion point, renegotiate union contract, freeze executive salaries and stop stealing the lanes tax payers have paid for!

Jw June 26, 2014 (4:53 pm)

I like car tab increases the most and I own 2. I think that rate should be determined by vehicle weight. Starting with $25 for a bicycle.

JLS June 26, 2014 (5:16 pm)

Timing, what do you feel should be cut from the contract and why? And how are the lanes being stolen from the tax payers? I’m a tax payer and the buses I ride filled with other tax payers uses that lane.

JoAnne June 26, 2014 (6:48 pm)

Wow, didn’t King County voters just reject a proposal to increase Metro’s already HUGE revenue stream and force them to operate more efficiently? (Like the bus services do in Tacoma, Snohomish County, anywhere else on earth, etc.).

Silly Goose June 26, 2014 (9:02 pm)

I so wanted to attend this meeting but just got home from work! UGh But for what ever it is worth a NO vote from this family in regards to addinig yet another fee to our tabs. Why should we be taxed for buses, raise the fare high enough to cover cost, why is that so difficult, and like JoAnne stated why is it the out lying cities have 100% better streets and roads, and public transportation? Get it together Metro and start being a profitable, professional enity instead of a bottom less disfuctional money pit, for gods sake!! Why should my taxes pay the additional fee for an orgination that always has it hands out for more more more, yet still can not even transport the capacity of riders that waited for hours to see the Seahawks home coming! As well as the Seafair parade crowds. Metro it is time to prove you are worthy of my hard earned money. I am tired of constantly being taxed for the “General Fund”

Fauntleroy fairy June 26, 2014 (9:36 pm)

Thank you JoAnne. It’s nice to know someone is paying attention to what’s going on out there!

cj June 27, 2014 (1:05 am)

Well I guess all the “why should I”s are about to find out. Hello Gridlock!

http://seattletransitblog.com/2013/05/02/explainer-2014-metro-budget-cuts/

Captain Crunch June 27, 2014 (9:10 am)

^ biased article with a pro metro agenda. Try again.

Jester face June 27, 2014 (9:17 am)

Remember kids, your No vote doesn’t count in upside down Seattle.

sam-c June 27, 2014 (10:01 am)

“1) How would planned Metro Transit service cuts impact you if no action is taken to prevent these cuts?”

actually one of the proposed changes made sense to me, and would probably actually make it more feasible/ efficient to use the bus WITHIN Seattle like everyone here tells ‘me’ I should every time ‘parking in the junction’ comes up. but that’s just me answering this first question. and hey, I don’t use the bus to get out of West Seattle (I don’t drive across the bridge every day- if I do leave WS, it’s to visit a friend or restaurant in another part of the city)

Rochelle Ogershok June 27, 2014 (11:20 am)

@JoAnne, Pierce Transit cut service by 37 percent between 2009-2012, eliminating service to seven communities.

Community Transit made cuts in 2010 and 2012, reducing service by 160,000 annual hours, or 37 percent of its earlier level. CT canceled all Sunday service and a substantial amount of weekday and Saturday service. CT estimates its current service is equivalent to the 2002 level.

Metro has taken significant steps over the years to avoid cuts in order to keep service on the street.

Rochelle Ogershok
King County Metro

miws June 27, 2014 (12:47 pm)

Thank you for your input, and the actual facts, Ms Ogershok.

Mike

James June 27, 2014 (1:18 pm)

All the people complaining about a no vote already happening are obtusely ignoring the fact that Seattle voted as a part of King County. Seattle voted in favor of the last funding measure, when taken apart from King County. Now Seattle will have an opportunity to vote as only Seattle and speak up about their desire to maintain their Metro service.
Is anyone suggesting that because the federal defense of marriage act passed that individual states (component parts of the U.S.A.) should have been prevented from holding their own votes on the issue (whether in a legislature, or as a vote by the people)?