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County Looks At Tax Boosts For Road Repair Spokane County Voters May See Two Proposals On Their Ballots This Fall

By Kristina Johnson kristinaj@spokesman.com

Spokane County voters likely will vote this fall on one and possibly two proposed tax increases aimed at fixing streets.

County commissioners on Thursday stopped short of approving plans for an added gas tax or motor vehicle license fee during a joint meeting with the City Council. But all three commissioners said they supported putting at least one of the measures on the November ballot.

Council members have turned to the county for help in dealing with the city’s road-repair crisis. All seven members said they support putting both tax increases before voters - but only commissioners have the power to take that action.

The two taxes combined would net the city about $3.2 million a year - far short of the nearly $50 million city officials say they need to resurface or possibly rebuild about 65 miles of troubled streets.

They need another $6 million annually for a resurfacing program to keep the roads in good shape after the backlog is fixed.

“We’re not always going to get everything we want,” said Mayor Jack Geraghty. “This is one way to get … an annual source of revenue.”

County roads don’t look as bad as the city’s but need about $30 million worth of resurfacing, said County Engineer Bill Johns. “We’ve been trying to hide the fact that we’ve been underfunding our maintenance,” he said, adding a harsh winter brought the streets’ problems to the surface.

The $4.8 million the two taxes would yield the county would go a long way to upgrading the road system, Johns said.

Commissioners are considering two options: a 2.3-cent-per-gallon local gas tax increase and a $15 increase in the vehicle registration tax.

The gas tax hike would raise about $4.7 million countywide. About $2.7 million of that would go to the county, $1.8 million to the city of Spokane and $200,000 to smaller towns. It must be approved by voters.

The $15 registration tax would raise $3.7 million countywide, with about $2.12 million going to the county, $1.4 million to the city of Spokane and $154,500 to smaller cities.

The tax would be added to the state’s motor vehicle excise tax paid each year by motorists when they renew their registration. None of the current excise tax goes to local governments for streets, but instead is spent on criminal justice and the state’s general fund.

The $15 fee doesn’t require voter approval, but at least two commissioners made it clear they did.

“I have a commitment. I won’t vote for any tax that doesn’t go by the voters first,” said Commissioner Kate McCaslin.

Commissioner Phil Harris held up a handmade sign that read: “No taxes.” But later Harris said he would support putting the proposed increases on the ballot. “I don’t mind giving the opportunity to voters.”

Neither tax increase fared well with voters in the past.

In 1991, county commissioners adopted the $15 motor vehicle license tax for street repairs, but repealed it before the first bill was collected because of public outcry.

In 1993, voters countywide resoundingly defeated a proposed 2.3-cent-per-gallon local gas tax aimed at road resurfacing and sweeping in the city and county.

Geraghty said putting the taxes before voters wouldn’t preclude the city from trying a road bond this fall to tackle the resurfacing backlog. But he doubted the council would pursue a voter-approved bond. The city might use revenue from a tax increase to pay off a bond that didn’t require voter approval, he said.

Commissioners planned to decide Tuesday whether to put the issues before voters.

“We’ve got to move immediately ahead,” said McCaslin, adding that any proposal requires someone from the private sector to launch a campaign.<

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: The two options A 2.3-cent-per-gallon local gas tax increase. It would raise about $4.7 million countywide. About $2.7 million of that would go to the county, $1.8 million to the city and $200,000 to smaller towns. It must be approved by voters. A $15 increase in the vehicle registration tax. It would raise $3.7 million countywide, with about $2.12 million going to the county, $1.4 million to the city and $154,500 to smaller cities.

This sidebar appeared with the story: The two options A 2.3-cent-per-gallon local gas tax increase. It would raise about $4.7 million countywide. About $2.7 million of that would go to the county, $1.8 million to the city and $200,000 to smaller towns. It must be approved by voters. A $15 increase in the vehicle registration tax. It would raise $3.7 million countywide, with about $2.12 million going to the county, $1.4 million to the city and $154,500 to smaller cities.