STA wants vs. needs

Spokane Transit Authority Proposition 1 lost, as it should have. On this proposition, STA lost sight of needs versus wants.

All of us taxpayers live with a fixed budget, have needs which must be funded and many wants which typically cannot be funded. Only 45 percent of Proposition 1 revenues related to the need to sustain the current level of service.

This proposition failed because the voters do not support STA’s wants and do not support a 9 percent sales tax, so they rejected the 0.3 percent increase. Conversely, the voters approved the juvenile detention proposition, which demonstrates that they do support taxes for needed programs.

STA needs to pare its proposal to include only the revenue needed to cover the current level of service. STA will be tempted to come back to the voters for their extravagant wants, but should not tie their needs and wants together in one ballot proposition.

For decades, STA has wanted light rail and electric trolley projects that the voters continue to reject. It’s time to stop. I would vote for a proposition that is 45 percent or less of this failed proposition.

Bruce Rawls

Spokane