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Peter Callaghan is a local columnist. He’s covered the statehouse and state politics since 1981. Before joining The News Tribune in 1985, the Stadium High grad worked for newspapers in Everett and Lewiston, Idaho, and for The Associated Press in Olympia and Seattle. Email Peter

Joe Turner has covered state government and transportation issues since 1990. Since the Bellarmine grad’s arrival in the newsroom in 1978, he’s covered police, suburban cities, Tacoma City Hall, Federal Way City Hall and the Pierce and King county governments. Email Joe

David Wickert covers Pierce County government. Before coming to The News Tribune in 1998, he covered local government for newspapers in Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee. Email David

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Let's talk politics.
Friday, October 19th, 2007
Posted by Hunter George @ 07:00:00 am

We're working on a package for publication Sunday about Proposition 1, the regional roads and transit measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

In a previous post, we gave three examples of how the tax increases would affect households of various income levels.

Below is more info that will be included in the Sunday package - a list showing the cumulative tax collections by Sound Transit and RTID if the measure passes. Note: It'll be a lot prettier on Sunday; a graphic artist is working it up as a chart. But here's a look at the raw data:

This chart shows total actual tax collections in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties through 2007, and projected tax collections if Proposition 1 passes. Projections take into account population growth and inflation for the region and stated policies for the two agencies that have put the joint measure onto the ballot.

Year Taxes raised Notes
1997 $159 million Sound Transit started collecting a 0.4 sales tax and a 0.3 motor vehicle excise tax and rental car tax after voters approved the first phase of light rail, regional bus and commuter train service.
1998 $227 million
1999 $242 million
2000 $271 million
2001 $268 million
2002 $265 million
2003 $270 million
2004 $286 million
2005 $308 million
2006 $332 million
2007 $340 million
2008 $705 million New Prop. 1 taxes take effect.
2009 $986 million
2010 $1.031 billion
2011 $1.079 billion
2012 $1.133 billion
2013 $1.193 billion
2014 $1.254 billion
2015 $1.320 billion
2016 $1.390 billion
2017 $1.461 billion
2018 $1.533 billion
2019 $1.607 billion
2020 $1.687 billion
2021 $1.775 billion
2022 $1.868 billion
2023 $1.965 billion
2024 $2.067 billion
2025 $2.174 billion
2026 $2.289 billion
2027 $2.409 billion Construction ends on Sound Transit and RTID projects

2028 $2.536 billion Sound Transit expects to lower MVET from 1.1 percent to 0.8 percent of vehicle value. It may also scale back some of its remaining taxes. The agency would need to collect at least $542 million in 2028 – and more thereafter – to operate and maintain its light-rail, commuter rail and regional bus services. That’s in addition to the estimated $226 million per year it expects to collect from passenger fares. It also would need money to pay off outstanding loans.

2029 $2.459 billion
2030 $2.590 billion
2031 $2.729 billion
2032 $2.877 billion
2033 $3.033 billion
2034 $3.198 billion
2035 $3.373 billion
2036 $3.555 billion
2037 $3.133 billion RTID expects to pay off all loans and stop collecting its 0.1 percent sales tax and 0.8 percent MVET.

2038 $2.739 billion Tax collections for this year and subsequent years are only for Sound Transit.

2039 $2.987 billion
2040 $3.144 billion

2057 No figures available. Sound Transit expects to pay off the last of the money it plans to borrow to build its transit system. Operating and maintenance costs would continue.

Sources: Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Investment District for Pierce, King and Snohomish counties.

Categories: Campaign news