Senators Rossi, O’Ban may go after Sound Transit over car tabs
Mar 3, 2017, 3:21 PM | Updated: 6:38 pm
Seattle is currently dealing with a light rail outage. (Sound Transit)
(Sound Transit)
State Senators Dino Rossi and Steve O’Ban have asked Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson for a ruling on the constitutionality of raising car tab fees to help fund the expansion of Sound Transit light rail.
It has come to our attention that the act which authorized Sound Transit to use the inflated MSRP schedule was improperly drafted in such a way as to violate the state constitution. If so, it is the belief that the invalidation of this provision or act would have legal consequences for any contracts entered into between Sound Transit and any other entity that pledged the MVET revenue.
>>Read the full letter from Rossi, O’Ban
>>RTA MVET depreciation schedule
Rossi and O’Ban go on to say they are considering legislation and would appreciate AG Ferguson’s “informal opinion on this matter.”
Related: Car tab increase ‘our fault’
Voters in King and Snohomish counties approved the increase in November (Pierce County rejected Prop. 1) when Sound Transit 3 passed to extend light rail and other mass transit initiatives. ST3 extends light rail to Everett by 2036, to Ballard by 2035, to West Seattle by 2030, to Issaquah by 2041 and to Tacoma by 2030. To raise the $54 billion needed, voters accepted an increase in sales tax increase of 50 cents on a $100 purchase, an increase in vehicle license tabs ($80 per year on a $10,000 vehicle,) and also a property tax increase $100 per year on a $400,000 home.
Sound Transit published a calculator to determine our individual expenses. But none of us apparently used it before casting our votes. Just wait until you pay your property taxes.
To the guy who paid $1,500 recently to renew his tabs on his Tesla, it’s only 25 more years. And your grandkids might thank you for it.
Senator: I’ll be in a nursing home before Sammamish sees benefits of ST3
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