Rantz: ‘Pay-by-Mile’ car tax would be devastating

For all their lip service claiming to care for low-income residents, Washington leaders sure seem to love punishing them with burdensome taxes that could be absolutely devastating. The latest idea – which is going through a pilot program – is a pay-by-the-mile tax system. It would be a disaster for low-income families already struggling to get by.

As detailed in The Seattle Times, the gas tax isn’t keeping up with the increased costs for transportation projects. This is due, in large part, to newer fuel-efficient automobiles. Per the Times:

It’s a problem that will only get worse in the future as cars get more and more fuel-efficient and, eventually, revenues begin to actually decline. It’s also not a problem that has sneaked up on anyone. The Washington State Transportation Commission has been studying it since 2012 and is now recruiting volunteers to test a possible solution.

Their solution is a pay-by-the-mile tax that charges you based on how many miles you drive. But, it’s a solution that punishes our most vulnerable citizens.

If you own an electric car, for example, you’re likely to be affluent. Of electric vehicle purchases in 2013, Experian Automotive found that 21 percent buyers had an average household income of $175,000 or more. On the other hand, if you own a gas guzzler, you’re at a higher likelihood of being low income.

Why is this important? According to Cars.com, pricey Seattle is in the top 10 cities of owners with electric vehicles. If you live in Seattle, you’re already likely to be a high income earner and, most likely, work in the city, meaning your commute is shorter. So, not only are you wealthy, but you’ll pay less in taxes because you drive less, since you live closer to work.

Now, let’s look at La Center or Battle Ground. Demographically, you’re less likely to drive an expensive electric or hybrid, and you’ll likely drive farther to get to your job in, say, Vancouver. In fact, the further you are from a major city, the more you’ll likely drive to commute to work. That person should pay higher taxes to drive than a Seattleite?

The further you have to drive to work, the higher the likelihood that this tax will impact you. Not everyone can afford to live in Seattle and, depending on your job schedule or if you’re working two jobs, taking a bus isn’t an option. This is a tax that hits low income earners the most. The wealthy couple living on the Eastside commuting to Seattle for work won’t feel this much. But that single mom in Renton or Tukwila, who can’t afford to live in Seattle where they work? They’ll be hit pretty hard.

Is this the type of policy the state should push when they claim they care about low income workers?

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