This week Council members Pedersen, Herbold and Lewis are jointly introducing a last-minute addition to the 2021 budget that would increase the city’s car-tab fee from $20 to $40, in order to raise additional funds for much-needed bridge maintenance.
Continue readingCategory: transportation benefit district
Mosqueda unveils 2021 budget balancing package
This afternoon, Council budget chair Teresa Mosqueda rolled out her “balancing package,” a collection of changes to the Mayor’s 2021 proposed budget that address Council members’ consensus priorities, while keeping the overall budget balanced as required by law. The package follows through with the cuts to SPD they proposed two weeks ago, and it cuts Mayor’s Durkan’s $100 million Equitable Communities Initiative down to $30 million. Shortly after it was released, Durkan issued a press release… largely praising it. Wait, what was that again?
Continue readingState Supreme court throws out Initiative 976
This morning the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that Initiative 976, Tim Eyman’s most recent “$30 car tabs” effort, is unconstitutional. The Court found that the initiative contained multiple subjects and that its title was “deceptive and misleading.” It overturned a lower court ruling that largely upheld the initiative.
Continue readingCouncil votes to place Transportation Benefit District renewal on November ballot
This afternoon, the City Council voted unanimously to place a renewal of the Seattle Transportation Benefit District on the November ballot for voter approval. But before pushing it out the door, they made a few last-minute changes.
Continue readingCouncil advances Transportation Benefit District renewal
This morning the City Council moved a proposed renewal to the Seattle Transportation Benefit District out of committee, after deliberating on several amendments. Assuming it is approved by the full Council on July 27, it will be in front of Seattle voters on the November ballot.
Continue readingMayor proposes slimmed-down renewal of Seattle Transportation Benefit District
This afternoon the Mayor’s Office announced its proposal for renewing the Seattle Transportation Benefit District. Assuming the voters approve, it will be substantially slimmed down from the current STBD that expires at the end of the year.
Continue readingJudge issues new orders in Initiative 976 case
Today Judge Marshall Ferguson issued new orders in the legal challenge to Initiative 976, in response to requests from both the plaintiffs and defendants to reconsider parts of his February 12th ruling that largely upheld Initiative 976.
Continue readingCity and county officials discussing options for Transportation Benefit Districts
Seattle and King County officials have been discussing among themselves whether it would be preferable to renew the Seattle Transportation Benefit District funding in a fall ballot measure, or to propose a county-wide transportation benefit district in August instead.
Continue readingDueling motions filed in legal challenge to Initiative 976
With a preliminary injunction now in place, the fight over Initiative 976 has moved on to the next step. Yesterday, both the plaintiffs and the defendants filed motions for summary judgment, asking the court to weigh the legal issues and find in their favor.
Continue readingSupreme Court denies stay of injunction, Initiative 976 remains on hold
By a 6-3 vote, this evening the Washington State Supreme Court denied the Attorney General’s emergency motion for a stay on the preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of Initiative 976, the “$30 car tab” law.
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