Not surprised state is raising the toll rate

It’s about to cost you a little more to drive across the
520 floating bridge. (WSDOT)

The peak toll on the Highway 520 floating bridge that
began at $3.50 at the end of last year will rise to $4.35
in 2016 after a series of scheduled increases.

The Washington Transportation Department says the first of
four annual increases of 2.5 percent will take effect in
July, and the final planned increase of 15 percent will
take effect in 2016.

IS ANYONE SURPRISED BY THIS?

Dori’s not. Here’s a little history about tax hikes (from
dor.wa.gov) in the
past 70 plus years.

RETAIL SALES/USE TAX
1935 – Enacted at 2.0%
1941 – Increased to 3.0%

1955 – Increased to 3.33%

1959 – Increased to 4.0%

1965 – Increased to 4.2%

1967 – Increased to 4.5%

1976 – Increased to 4.6%

1979 – Decreased to 4.5%

1981 – Increased to 5.5%

1982 – Decreased to 5.4%

1983 – Increased to 6.5%

B&O TAX – Manufacturing
1935 – Enacted at 0.25%

1951 – Increased to 0.3%
1951 – Increased to 0.3%
1955 – Increased to 0.4%
1959 – Increased to 0.44%
1976 – Increased to 0.4664%
1979 – Decreased to 0.44%
1982 – Increased to 0.458%
1983 – Increased to 0.581%
1993 – Increased to 0.515%

1995 – Decreased to 0.506
1997 – Decreased to 0.484%

CIGARETTE TAX
1935 – Enacted at 1 cents per pack
1939 – Increased to 2 cents

1949 – Increased to 4 cents

1955 – Increased to 5 cents

1959 – Increased to 6 cents

1961 – Increased to 7 cents

1965 – Increased to 11 cents

1971 – Increased to 16 cents

1981 – Increased to 20 cents

1982 – Increased to 20.8 cents

1982 – Increased to 23 cents

1986 – Increased to 31 cents

1989 – Increased to 34 cents

1993 – Increased to 54 cents

1994 – Increased to 56.5 cents

1995 – Increased to 81.5 cents

1996 – Increased to 82.5 cents

2002 – Increased to $1.425

2005 – Increased to $2.025

GASOLINE TAX
1921 – Enacted at 1 cents per gallon
1924 – Increased to 2 cents
1929 – Increased to 3 cents
1931 – Increased to 4 cents
1933 – Increased to 5 cents
1949 – Increased to 6.5 cents
1961 – Increased to 7.5 cents
1967 – Increased to 9 cents
1977 – Increased to 11 cents
1979 – Increased to 12 cents
1981 – Increased to 13.5 cents
1982 – Decreased to 12 cents
1983 – Increased to 16 cents
1984 – Increased to 18 cents
1990 – Increased to 22 cents
1991 – Increased to 23 cents
1991 – Increased to 23 cents
2003 – Increased to 28 cents
2005 – Increased to 31 cents
2006 – Increased to 34 cents
2007 – Increased to 36 cents
2008 – Increased to 37.5 cents

770 AM The Truth’s David Boze talked to Robert Poole, Director of
Transportation Policy for the Reason Foundation, who
thinks tolling local roadways is the best way to pay for
our highways.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.