RES NO. 2019-25 OPPOSING INITIATIVE 976 CONCERNING MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES AND FEESRESOLUTION NO. 2019-25
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Bainbridge Island,
Washington, opposing Initiative 976, a statewide initiative to
the Legislature concerning motor vehicle taxes and fees, and
urging voters to vote against Initiative 976 on the November
5, 2019 general election ballot.
WHEREAS, Initiative 976 proposes a repeal of the authority for Transportation
Benefit Districts to impose vehicle license fees; and
WHEREAS, on August 22, 2012, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2012-
14, establishing the Bainbridge Island Transportation Benefit District; and
WHEREAS, on December 1, 2015, the City Council adopted Ordinance No.
2015-31, assuming the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the Bainbridge Island
Transportation Benefit District in accordance with Chapter 36.74 RCW; and
WHEREAS, on January 22, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No.
2019-08, which increased the vehicle fee from $20 to $30; and
WHEREAS, on January 22, 2019, the City Council also adopted Resolution No.
2019-06, specifying that the additional revenue from the increase of the vehicle license
fee from $20 to $30 would be used for eligible purposes under Chapter 36.73 RCW,
including traffic calming projects and climate change mitigation; and
WHEREAS, should Initiative 976 pass this November the City would lose
approximately $400,000 of ongoing funding that is normally programmed to support
annual road maintenance, which would require the City to seek new revenue sources,
divert funds from other City activities, or reduce the scale of the annual preservation
program; and
WHEREAS, should Initiative 976 pass this November, the City would also lose
approximately $200,000 of funding from the increased vehicle license fee revenue that
was programmed for traffic calming projects and climate change mitigation, which would
require the City to seek new revenue sources, divert funds from other City activities, or
reduce the scale of such projects or mitigation; and
WHEREAS, the availability, frequency, and quality of alternatives to solo
driving that Initiative 976 would reduce are crucial to Washington's efforts to reduce
emissions of pollutants that are damaging our climate and harming our air quality; and
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WHEREAS, the Cities of Anacortes, Bainbridge Island, Battle Ground, Black
Diamond, Bremerton, Bridgeport, Buckley, Burien, Carbonado, Covington, Des Moines,
DuPont, Edgewood, East Wenatchee, Eatonville, Electric City, Elmer City, Edmonds,
Enumclaw, Everett, Fife, George, Grandview, Granite Falls, Kalama, Kelso, Kenmore,
Kittitas, Lake Forest Park, Lakewood, Longview, Lynnwood, Mabton, Maple Valley,
Mercer Island, Moses Lake, Mountlake Terrace, Normandy Park, Olympia, Orting, Port
Orchard, Prosser, Richland, Roy, Royal City, Seattle, Sedro-Woolley, Shoreline,
Snoqualmie, Soap Lake, Spokane, Tacoma, Toppenish, University Place, Vancouver,
Wapato, Wenatchee, Wilkeson, Yakima, and Zillah all currently levy vehicle fees to fund
transportation improvements like road resurfacing and street maintenance, which would
be eliminated by Initiative 976.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE
ISLAND DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. For the reasons outlined above, the City Council publicly opposes
Initiative 976, a statewide initiative concerning motor vehicle taxes and fees.
Section 2. The City Council urges all voters on Bainbridge Island and throughout
Washington State to vote against Initiative 976 on the November 5, 2019 general election
ballot.
PASSED by the City Council this 27th day of August, 2019.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 27th day of August, 2019.
By-,�
Kol Medina, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
B .
� r
Christine Brow , , y Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: August 20, 2019
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: August 27, 2019
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-25
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