Spokane Airport board, West Plains Development Authority announce opposition to I-976

The Spokane Airport board of directors voted Thursday to oppose Initiative 976, joining the board of the West Plains Development Authority, which officially registered its opposition last week.

The measure, put forth by longtime anti-tax crusader Tim Eyman, would limit annual motor vehicle license fees to $30 a year, eliminate a host of programs that fund local road projects and dismantle some transit agencies. In the process, it would cut $4.2 billion from transportation funding.

Opponents say it will hobble state and local transportation projects, and throw into chaos an already confusing and underfunded roadwork funding mechanism.

The airport board said the initiative threatens improvements to the Geiger Boulevard-Interstate 90 interchange, the airport’s rail spur extension, the North Spokane Corridor and related widening of I-90. The WPDA board expressed similar concerns.

The Spokane City Council discussed the initiative this week, but has no plans to formally vote on the measure.