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Expand road fee plan
The Washington Legislature got the fee partway correct; they report that the average road tax via gas purchase per vehicle is $200 annually and that’s what the electric/hybrid road use tax should be.
When you really think about this logically, the state Legislature really should put this $200 annual road use fee onto every license renewal and concurrently remove the Washington state tax on diesel and gasoline. I believe everyone in the state would like to see gas prices drop that much.
Further, since this road use fee is used to do road improvement/repair, all bicyclists should be charged an annual $20 road use fee for the maintenance and installation of “bicycle only” lanes so they pay their fair share (exempting school-age children from this).
The motorized “scooters” that are in great use should be charged a $35 license fee to operate on the streets. The present “fuel tax” system will not continue to work when it’s based on amount of fuel being sold; the latest report I read indicated that the U.S. is using 11 million gallons a day less now than five years ago; no wonder there is less money for road maintenance and improvement.
Gary Wheeldon
Spokane Valley