Transportation Benefit District in Spokane?

One of the best blogs in the region is the SRTC blog . Seriously. It’s your daily source for great transportation news, operated by SRTC staff members Staci Lehman, the Public Education/Information coordinator and Jeff Selle, the Manager of Government Relations. It’s fun, well-written and very informative.

Yesterday the subject of a local Transportation Benefit District caught our eye. To wit:

If you follow transportation happenings, you’ve probably heard talk recently of forming a local ‘TBD’, or Transportation Benefit District.’ The TBD would be a way to raise money for much-needed transportation projects, and would add at least an extra $20 to your bill every time you license your vehicle. Local lawmakers can implement a TBD without voter approval for an amount as small as $20. If they decide to get more ambitious and ask for more money though, you- the voter- will be consulted.

A meeting was held last week to discuss the possibility of forming a TBD. Here’s a synopsis of that meeting from the Spokane Valley Herald .

Would taxpayers go for an extra $20 on license fees if it meant road improvements? According to the Herald, to raise $20 million, it would require a car tab fee of between $40 and $50 and necessitate a vote. From that amount about 30 percent would be earmarked for regional projects while the remaining 70 percent could be divided between our local governments.

For TDB 101, go here .