STA asking too much

Taxpayers must critically review Spokane Transit Authority’s proposed “Moving Forward Plan” and its accompanying request for a 0.3 percent increase in sales tax. This amounts to a 50 percent increase in their current tax revenue and increases the total sales tax rate in the city of Spokane to the highest amount ever.

Furthermore, STA is arguing that if the ballot measure that it predicts will raise $300 million over 10 years doesn’t pass, “Spokane Transit would be required to cut service and expect a ridership decrease of up to 25 percent.” There is simply no basis for that blatant threat because STA is currently running a budget surplus and has over $50 million in cash reserves.

Regional transit is a value-added component of our community. However, STA should have considered a lesser sales tax increase to ensure the reputation of the agency does not return to the widespread distrust that existed only 12 years ago.

Limiting annual cost growth to match the historical sales tax growth rate of 3 percent could generate another $100 million over their own projections. It is simply too much to ask for all at once and could lead to exorbitant cash reserves, wasteful spending or both. Vote no.

Kim Traver

Spokane