2002 ANNUAL REPORT
Northwest

Transportation Package

The Washington State Legislature passed an enabling transportation-funding package of approximately $7.7 billion over the next ten years. The funding element included a 9-cent gas tax (5 cents year 1 and 4 cents year 2), a 1% additional sales tax on new and used car sales, and a 30% increase in truck weight fees. The legislature also passed a regional transportation plan allowing King, Pierce and Snohomish County to join together to adopt higher taxes to pay for transportation projects. The taxes are subject to a public vote and include a $100 annual vehicle registration fee, a half-cent increase in the sales tax, a commercial parking tax, an employer tax (up to $2.00 a month), and tolls. If fully implemented the taxes could raise $8.7. The final decision was to sent to voters for public approval in November, and was defeated. Consequently, the Legislature will need to address this issue in the future.

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