Metropolitan King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson released a statement Wednesday that she supports a proposed $20 vehicle license fee for each of the next two years to help maintain Metro Transit service at its current level.
“After finding out today that the proposed congestion relief charge would save the 26,000 service hours scheduled to be cut in council District 5 as part of the 17 percent reduction of transit service, I am ready to support County Executive (Dow) Constantine’s proposal,” said Patterson, of SeaTac, whose District 5 includes parts of Tukwila and Kent.
“This was not an easy decision for me because families are already struggling in this economic recession,” she said. “Before I gave my support of a fee increase, I needed to make absolutely sure that this proposal did not disproportionately burden the working poor in my district.”
Patterson said that South County residents need bus service.
“South County residents commute further than anywhere else in King County.” Patterson said. “They rely heavily on bus service everyday to get them to work and back home to their families. Without this critical transportation lifeline we will be forcing more people to get in their cars and they will spend hundreds of dollars a year on gas and vehicle maintenance – a much greater financial impact than a $20 fee.”
The Council is scheduled to vote Monday, July 25 on the proposal.
The Legislature recently authorized the county to charge a vehicle license fee. Any fee of $20 or less approved by the Council would not have to go to voters for approval if a supermajority of at least six of the nine Council members are in favor of the proposed ordinance. The Council also could vote with a simple majority of five members in favor to send the measure to voters for approval.
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