Clark County Transportation Alliance urges voters to reject Initiative 976

A consortium of organizations and agencies that support regional transportation projects is urging voters to reject Initiative 976 on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The Clark County Transportation Alliance issued the following statement Tuesday opposing the measure:

“With a growing population and our transportation infrastructure already suffering from limited maintenance and improvements, now is not the time to shift funding into reverse. We all depend upon a well-maintained transportation system to support safe movement of pedestrians, public transit, vehicles, freight and commerce.

“We oppose slashing dedicated transportation funding and cutting local funding tools for local projects, which is what I-976 would do. Among our highest concerns are our most vulnerable neighbors who rely upon services, such as paratransit, to receive critical medical care.”

The Clark County Transportation Alliance is a coalition of organizations, agencies and communities that develops an annual policy statement used to advocate for regional transportation funding. It started more than 20 years ago by the city of Vancouver and Identity Clark County.

Initiative 976, the latest measure from anti-tax activist Tim Eyman, would cap annual vehicle licensing fees at $30 for vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less and eliminate additional licensing fees collected by 61 cities in Washington, including Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Vancouver and Washougal.

If voters approve I-976, it would eliminate about $2.32 billion in revenue for local governments and $1.92 billion for the state over the next six years, according to the Washington Office of Financial Management.

I-976 also would repeal the state’s 0.3 percent motor vehicle sales tax, reduce fees for electric vehicles, revoke Sound Transit’s ability to impose a motor vehicle tax in the Puget Sound area, and specify that any motor vehicle tax must be based on Kelley Blue Book value.