Tacoma residents could be asked to vote on raising their property taxes to pay for street improvements. A task force of 13 citizens convened by Tacoma City Council last year recently unveiled their recommendations to pay for transportation infrastructure repairs.
"This is probably not going to be popular with the taxpayers of Tacoma," Mark Martinez
task force chair
Mark Martinez, a board member of Pierce County Construction and Trades Council, is chair of the task force. He told council members last week the city's street problems are nearing the crisis point.
The task force recommends placing a levy lid lift measure on the ballot in August. If passed by voters, this would raise the city's share of property taxes from $2.63 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $3.60. This would generate about $72 million.
The task force suggests the city issue $60 million in revenue bonds to coordinate street repairs with replacement of stormwater and sewer lines. Another recommendation is to impose a $20 car-tab fee to raise $13.75 million. The task force advised carrying out the recommendations in that order.
The Legislature granted cities the authority to raise car tabs by $20 without a public vote. Raising them above that amount requires voter approval.
Lois Stark, a member of the task force representing Tacoma Area Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities, said if voters have a property tax increase and car tab increase on the same ballot only one is likely to pass. It most likely would be the one that would cost voters the lesser amount, she added.
"This is probably not going to be popular with the taxpayers of Tacoma," Martinez remarked. Asking them to approve tax increases in the current economy will be difficult, he noted. The city should compile a priority list showing exactly how the money will be spent. Money raised should go into a fund dedicated to street improvements. "That will go a long way to help a campaign to convince the voters this is the right thing to do."
Stark said she was shocked to learn how much money it would take for Tacoma to catch up on needed improvements. Even minor work such as re-painting crosswalks had a price tag higher than she imagined. Bringing the entire infrastructure up to modern standards could cost $1 billion.
"This is just a first step," she remarked. Stark said if the city does not act in the near future, the cost will continue to rise.
Another member, David Seago, said the task force did not recommend a time to place a measure on the ballot. He called that a political decision the council needs to make. He advised the council not to place an item on the ballot unless it believes a citizen group will mount a strong campaign to pass it.
Councilmember Ryan Mello noted Sound Transit has about $80 million reserved to expand light rail in Tacoma. Matching funds would need to be raised to move that effort forward.
He asked the task force if they delved into that topic. They said they did not because of the magnitude of the need for sidewalk and street repairs. Stark said the city needs to fix what it already has. "Adding a new component did not seem to make sense to us."
