Not many reasons for auto users to vote yes on the Sims tax increases.

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Ron (tax to the max) Sims is coming up with yet another proposal to reach into people's pockets to preserve that status quo. He still doesn't get the message that transit isn't the answer, it's part of the problem.

Bus tax may be hard sell for county - Focus group's findings don't bode well for plan to save Metro service 2000-06-16 by Jeff Switzer Journal Reporter BELLEVUE -- Voters are overwhelmingly cynical and have no sympathy for Metro bus service cuts because of Initiative 695, officials were told yesterday. The news came as about 100 city and county leaders met in Bellevue to discuss whether to put a sales tax hike for transit on the November ballot. ``If bus service gets cut, everybody gets blamed in this,'' said Jane Malbon, director of research with Gogerty Stark Marriott Inc. ``It's time to embrace what people are saying: People want to play a stronger role in making decisions.'' The harsh news that Malbon brought from the focus groups included: * Any bus service cuts will be interpreted as an act of vengeance by government for voters' approval of I-695. * Just replacing bus service to pre-I-695 levels is unacceptable. * The county has the money somewhere. * The sky didn't fall after I-695, so any facts offered by government officials are suspicious. With those views in mind, County Executive Ron Sims announced he is committed to saving Metro from roughly $80 million in service cuts next year by asking county voters to hike the sales tax by at least 0.2 percent. Such an increase would also allow for 100,000 hours of additional bus service. This year, the Legislature gave counties the power to ask voters to hike the sales tax rate by as much as 0.3 percent, or 3 cents on a $10 purchase. By July 1, Sims said he will decide whether to also ask the County Council for an additional 0.1 percent increase to fund a $530 million wish list of transit projects. That doesn't leave much time for Sims to prepare his case for the tax hike. ``Time is not an ally here,'' Sims said. ``It's an imperfect world with imperfect timing.'' The response yesterday from officials was mixed. Some opposed a ballot measure, though their opinions were voiced anonymously via feedback compiled during discussions and presented at the end of the meeting. Many supported asking voters for at least a 0.2 percent sales tax hike, but questioned the short timeline and Sims' list of projects. ``Call it a governmental Christmas tree with ornaments for different cities,'' said Chuck Mosher, Bellevue's mayor. ``It's great to get presents, but we don't want to do it unless it solves the bigger problems. We shouldn't go out and spend money just because it's available.'' Some said the November ballot is a bad place for such a measure, competing for attention with the presidential and state races, and other Seattle and county bond and levy measures. Citizen initiatives will also likely be on the ballot. ``Tim Eyman is not seen as being a great leader; he is seen as being a great listener,'' Malbon said, citing views from focus groups regarding the I-695 author. ``Voting is very much seen as sending a message, and I-695 was `change the way you're doing business.''' Sims' actions appear to closely mirror what Malbon says her focus groups are saying: People want to hear that the county is changing, cutting bureaucracy and reducing inefficiencies. He did some of that earlier this week, when he announced that his 2001 budget will have $14.6 million in cuts, including 149 positions from the county transportation department, and raise bus fares by 25 cents. The region also lacks leaders, Malbon said, again citing focus groups. Sims is convening a panel of Metro transit's founders and other leaders to advise him in coming weeks. The panel will include Jim Ellis, one of Metro's founders, and former Bellevue mayor Nan Campbell, among others. The County Council is expected to debate the issue through July. That would leave only three months for a campaign to promote a ballot measure. ``Every measure today really requires a major campaign,'' Malbon said. ``But people will support good measures.'' Jeff Switzer can be reached at jeff.switzer@eastsidejournal.com or 425-453-4234.

Screw Transit! Build Roads!

zowie

-- (zowie@hotmail.com), June 16, 2000

Answers

At least a few of the newspapers are starting to wake up:

 

Opinion

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- From the Eastside Business Journal

Editorial Opinion County Council plans tax to the max Pat McCarrell "It's time to step back and look at the total transportation picture."

A June 13 King County Council press release attributes that visionary quote to Councilman Chris Vance, chair of the County Council's transportation committee.

"We want to make sure we are maximizing tax dollars to create a transportation system that works together."

You would think that the chair of the transportation committee already spends a great deal of time looking at the total transportation picture.

Moreover, I've grown used to governments maximizing the amount of taxes they collect, but few come right out and say it. I imagine he meant that he wants to make sure he maximizes the VALUE we get for our tax dollars. In that case, one might hope that local governments always maximize our tax dollars.

They don't, of course, which is why the county's Department of Transportation finds itself in the state it's in today. The county tells anyone who will listen that Initiative 695 has crippled transit service here.

Now, in order to decrease the loss in bus service expected as a result of I-695, some administrative cuts are in order.

Vance teamed with County Executive Ron Sims to announce 149 jobs cut from the transportation department, none of which is critical to the continued operation of bus service. The job cuts would save more than $14 million annually, or about 192,000 bus-service hours.

With the proposed cuts, the planning division would be eliminated, although half of the planners in that division would be reassigned into other divisions. That saves about $2 million.

Another notable cut: seven jobs in the community and administrative services division, saving $800,000. What do those people do? ... More than $100,000 each? ... I digress.

All these cuts are proposed just in time for the County Council to ask for more money with which they can practice maximizing.

But while Vance says he's committed to making these cutbacks, the rest of the County Council has yet to weigh in. Not scheduled to take effect until Jan. 1, I'm not confident the cuts will actually occur.

The June 14 meeting of the transporation committee wasn't held in time for our press run, but the plan was to ask for an increase in the local sales tax. I'm confident they'll manage to maximize the sales tax.

Pat McCarrell is editor of Eastside Business Journal. Reach him at pmccarrell@am-city.com.



-- (mark842@hotmail.com), June 19, 2000.

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