A new bill has been introduced that would protect Transportation Benefit District funding authority for cities.

SB 5510, sponsored by Sens. Curtis King (R-Yakima), Liz Lovelett (D–Anacortes), Perry Dozier (R–Waitsburg), Mark Mullet (D–Issaquah), Rebecca Saldaña (D–Seattle), and Jeff Wilson (R–Longview), would modify the existing sales and use tax authority imposed by a transportation benefit district (TBD). Currently, voters can approve a 0.2% sales that can be renewed every ten years up to two-times. The bill would allow for this voter approved tax to be voted on every ten years in perpetuity.

While TBD’s have several funding options, more than 50 cities rely on voter-approved sales and use taxes to fund transportation projects such as new road construction, public transit, and preservation and maintenance for existing roads and multimodal systems. Many cities are now in the second of their ten-year terms and are concerned about this important tool expiring while transportation needs continue to grow.

SB 5510 is an AWC legislative priority. We would like to thank the bill sponsors for bringing this bill forward to help support city transportation funding needs.

Date to remember

SB 5510 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on January 20 at 4 pm.