Chief
03-26-2007, 04:46 PM
Another letter that was in this morning's Columbian, that deserves mention as well.
Bills clarify legislation
When voters supported I-695 to repeal the motor vehicle excise tax, it was with some degree of logic.
A tax that most voters assumed was used for roads and highways had, in fact, been increasingly abused over the years to fund such non-road services as domestic violence prevention, child abuse prevention, criminal justice, public health, community policing and other.
Additionally, with Initiatives 747 and 776, cities lost nearly $100 million in transportation revenue. The cumulative affect is that cities and counties are left scrambling to fund local transportation projects.
While the Legislature has thankfully been very aggressive in identifying funding for state road and highway projects, the amount allocated to local jurisdictions is not enough to even maintain the roads we have, much less add new infrastructure, especially in a region growing as rapidly as Clark County.
Proposed legislation amending the options within a Transportation Benefit District, HB 1858 and SB 5767, simply provides an option for cities and counties to implement a $20 vehicle license tab fee.
They don't have to use it if they chose not to or if they don't need it.
Bob Byrd
Vancouver
**SCHNIPP**
That would be the same Bob Byrd of Identity Clark County, and there ain't a tax around that they don't like. Remember, these people are going to help the City come after your house next, as soon as the Washington State Supreme Court overturns I-747.
It's dishonest of ICC and the Columbian to sneak a letter through like this, when they know damned well who it is that wrote it. I sure can't get a letter printed, but then again, I don't have the budget to buy space in the Columbian either...
Bills clarify legislation
When voters supported I-695 to repeal the motor vehicle excise tax, it was with some degree of logic.
A tax that most voters assumed was used for roads and highways had, in fact, been increasingly abused over the years to fund such non-road services as domestic violence prevention, child abuse prevention, criminal justice, public health, community policing and other.
Additionally, with Initiatives 747 and 776, cities lost nearly $100 million in transportation revenue. The cumulative affect is that cities and counties are left scrambling to fund local transportation projects.
While the Legislature has thankfully been very aggressive in identifying funding for state road and highway projects, the amount allocated to local jurisdictions is not enough to even maintain the roads we have, much less add new infrastructure, especially in a region growing as rapidly as Clark County.
Proposed legislation amending the options within a Transportation Benefit District, HB 1858 and SB 5767, simply provides an option for cities and counties to implement a $20 vehicle license tab fee.
They don't have to use it if they chose not to or if they don't need it.
Bob Byrd
Vancouver
**SCHNIPP**
That would be the same Bob Byrd of Identity Clark County, and there ain't a tax around that they don't like. Remember, these people are going to help the City come after your house next, as soon as the Washington State Supreme Court overturns I-747.
It's dishonest of ICC and the Columbian to sneak a letter through like this, when they know damned well who it is that wrote it. I sure can't get a letter printed, but then again, I don't have the budget to buy space in the Columbian either...