Staunch critic of car-tab fees actually sees decrease

A staunch critic of car-tab fees and Sound Transit’s valuation method didn’t see the increased fees he thought he would. In fact, he saw a decrease.

Buyer’s remorse: Fee increase on car tabs is ‘our fault’

State Rep. Mark Harmsworth (R-Mill Creek), who recently renewed his tabs on a pickup truck, was “expecting a $700 tab,” he wrote on Facebook. Instead, he had to pay $108, which was a few dollars less than what he’s previously paid.

As it turns out, his truck is on the exempt list because vehicles weighing more than 6,000 pounds are exempt from the regional transit authority tax.

The fight over car-tab fees has bled into Olympia, with multiple bills being proposed by lawmakers to lower the sticker shock associated with the Sound Transit 3 tax package approved by voters in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties in November.

Related: Fight over car tab costs no longer split along party lines

Most of the outrage has stemmed from the fact that Sound Transit uses a valuation system that has been in place since the first light rail measure passed in 1996. It’s unlikely the agency will use a newer method until 2028 unless legislation forces it to do otherwise.

Sound Transit says 60 percent of the vehicles in its taxing district are valued at $10,000 or less.

However, it was only a few days ago when Harmsworth told KIRO 7 that he has neighbors who are paying $300 or $400 to renew their car tabs.

Harmsworth told the Daily Herald he’s not off the hook though. He expects to see tab fees for his family’s other vehicles skyrocket.

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