MYNORTHWEST NEWS

King County voters to decide future of Metro Transit

Feb 25, 2014, 5:06 AM | Updated: 7:31 am

Riders may have to wait longer to get on the bus if voters decide in April whether or not they will...

Riders may have to wait longer to get on the bus if voters decide in April whether or not they will raise the sales tax a tenth of a cent and approve a $60 car tab fee to prevent a 17 percent cut in bus service. (MyNorthwest.com Photo/Alyssa Kleven)

(MyNorthwest.com Photo/Alyssa Kleven)

Metro bus riders, you have your chance. You can now lobby your friends and neighbors to support a sales tax increase to prevent more cuts in your service.

King County voters will decide in April whether to raise the sales tax a tenth of a cent and approve a $60 car tab fee to prevent a 17 percent cut in bus service.

The tax increases will also raise money to repair roads.

The King County Council unanimously approved the ballot measure. Councilmember Larry Phillips said Metro needs the money.

“We can realize those cuts, or as a community we can step forward and do something about it,” he said.

If approved, the ballot measure would raise $150 million a year.

The council also adopted a $0.25 fare hike that will start next year.

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