How does a $40 car tab fee sound? Yakima voters could decide
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- It looks like taxpayers could have the final say on a car tab fee here in Yakima after all as city leaders are set to decide this week whether to put it on the ballot next spring.
It's an idea that's gone from hot to cold. And, now hot again after the citizen's survey showed significant support.
The money generated would pay to take of the city's streets.
"The roads are bad, you know? And, it makes the place look nice too, I think so. But it's a good deal," said Taxpayer Maria Meeks.
Many taxpayers say they're frustrated by the condition of our roads. Yet, people remain divided on whether to approve a car tab fee.
Earlier this year, city leaders decided not to ask you to vote for it but we learned these discussions are now back on the table.
This time, it could cost you double; how does a $40 car tab fee sound?
City leaders have been reluctant to even adopt a $20 car tab fee or put it to a vote.
Now, they could finally put this higher amount on the ballot for you in April.
"Would you approve a $40 car tab fee?" KIMA asked.
"Yeah, as long as the money is going to be used for what it's supposed to be used for," said taxpayer Ethan Longmire.
This new proposed car tab fee could raise $2 million a year and it would go away after 10 years.
"What happens to our roads if this isn't passed?" KIMA asked.
"They're going to continue to decrease and we are going to have, pretty generally, a breakdown in all of our streets around the community," said Yakima City Councilmember Kathy Coffey.
That's not enough to convince some taxpayers who would reject it if they have the chance.
"I don't make enough money as it is. And, the cost of living, all the bills and everything are just too much," said taxpayer Misty Olivas.
"We are paying more taxes than necessary. I mean, we keep paying, keep paying, they keep raising our taxes," taxpayer Karen Kautz said.
Regardless of the outcome, simply holding a vote on the car tab fee would cost taxpayers about $70,000.
If the car tab fee ultimately gets the ok from voters, Yakima would decide whether to receive money every year or issue a $25-million bond up front.
It's an idea that's gone from hot to cold. And, now hot again after the citizen's survey showed significant support.
The money generated would pay to take of the city's streets.
"The roads are bad, you know? And, it makes the place look nice too, I think so. But it's a good deal," said Taxpayer Maria Meeks.
Many taxpayers say they're frustrated by the condition of our roads. Yet, people remain divided on whether to approve a car tab fee.
Earlier this year, city leaders decided not to ask you to vote for it but we learned these discussions are now back on the table.
This time, it could cost you double; how does a $40 car tab fee sound?
City leaders have been reluctant to even adopt a $20 car tab fee or put it to a vote.
Now, they could finally put this higher amount on the ballot for you in April.
"Would you approve a $40 car tab fee?" KIMA asked.
"Yeah, as long as the money is going to be used for what it's supposed to be used for," said taxpayer Ethan Longmire.
This new proposed car tab fee could raise $2 million a year and it would go away after 10 years.
"What happens to our roads if this isn't passed?" KIMA asked.
"They're going to continue to decrease and we are going to have, pretty generally, a breakdown in all of our streets around the community," said Yakima City Councilmember Kathy Coffey.
That's not enough to convince some taxpayers who would reject it if they have the chance.
"I don't make enough money as it is. And, the cost of living, all the bills and everything are just too much," said taxpayer Misty Olivas.
"We are paying more taxes than necessary. I mean, we keep paying, keep paying, they keep raising our taxes," taxpayer Karen Kautz said.
Regardless of the outcome, simply holding a vote on the car tab fee would cost taxpayers about $70,000.
If the car tab fee ultimately gets the ok from voters, Yakima would decide whether to receive money every year or issue a $25-million bond up front.
LOL George, kinda like the pot calling the kettle black! Why do taxes have to be raised to fix our roads, or why should we have to decide which taxes need increased to cover funding that is already in place? They Don't !!!  What is the gas tax we currently pay, or the weight based vehicle taxes we pay with tab renewals? Or what about the weight fees paid by commercial vehicles every month? Roads! Do people know the weight based taxes paid by commercial vehicles average about $150 per MONTH? That is alot of money when you look at how many commercial vehicles are on the road. Funds are missapropriated, and it is up to our elected officials to figure out how to do what needs to be done... not how they can tax us more and have more missapropriated funds.
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I believe cities should be responsible for setting taxes and using for repairs of their own public roads, but when we have to pay on the state level and it goes somewhere else, we should not have to dig further into our pockets to pay again. Taxes very rarely stop once implemented, so the "its only for 10 years" statement is BS... a selling point to lure citizens into voting for it, because it's temporary.
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Just think back when state lotteries were implented. State lotteries were supposed to fund schools, and we were not supposed to have any school levies ever again! Now within the last few years east valley and eisenhower both have had new levies passed. So my point is, taxes never go to where they are supposed to go!
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Anybody that has the smallest understanding of math will agree with me here... Taxes are based on a percentage system, so there is very rarely ever a need to raise taxes. Because as wages, cost of goods, etc. go up, so do the taxes collected. (Taxes are inflation resistant when based on a percent). So why do sales tax percentages keep going up? Costs of good are higher now than they were 10 years ago, people are spending more than they were 10 years ago. So they are collecting 30% more taxes than they were 10 years ago, but they still have to raise sales taxes. What about utility taxes? Have you evr looked at your phone, water, gas, etc bills? I have seen taxes as high as 25%.
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If people want to be so gullable and vote for increased taxes, why not just send me the money? Tax increases will not help anything, but rather just allow for the continued missapropriation and corruption in our elected officials (not all, but many). The people (WE THE PEOPLE)Â need to take a stand and say FU, it's your job to budget with what you have. If you want to increase your revenues, work on the local level to build the economy, bring in businesses and jobs, and your revenues will increase.
I voted for the $30 car tabs it passed and look where we are now!
Were all of the multiplied dozens of speed bumps installed for free? When those were going in, and on main arterial routes no less, there were potholes that could have been repaired all over town, ....but weren't. There was a fellow interviewed recently about the issue, said it would be okay if the money were actually used for street repair. As if!
Good job Yakima, you could have voted for a .05 cent sales tax which would barely have shown up on an average middle class citizen's budget and be paid by out of towners also shopping in the county thus spreading the burden. The sales tax bump also would have been more progressive and not placing a large burden on the middle class, but now you will have to pay for a $40 car tab fee which puts the brunt of the burden on the middle class and solely on residents. Genius! You all are absolute Geniuses in Yakima!!!