Vote no on Prop. 1

As Yogi Berra said: “It’s deja vu all over again.” The Spokane Transit Authority is asking Spokane voters to approve a ballot measure (Proposition 1), a two-tenths of a cent sales tax increase to support services and a Central City Line. Taxpayers defeated the first request in April 2015 (three-tenths). STA is resurrecting the same pig but with different colored lipstick.

STA continues to operate large buses that are mostly empty. The Central City Line will service only a narrow corridor between Browne’s Addition and Spokane Community College, having little value to a majority of countywide taxpayers. If passed, all county citizens will pay this increased sales tax benefiting a few while paid for by the many.

STA needs to demonstrate the need to voters, other than unsubstantiated rhetoric that it will increase ridership, property values and road improvements. Taxpayers need to be selective with county sales tax dollars and approve increases that will benefit a majority of Spokane County citizens, not just a minority.

Here is a mandate for STA: fill buses that now run mostly empty and expand only where you have proven there is a need. Turn out and vote no on Proposition 1.

Jack Reber

Spokane