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It's true. The House did vote unanimously on Friday night in favor of a bill that would forgive $40 million in sales tax that tollpayers are supposed to start paying off in 2012 and continue through 2022, paying 10 percent each year.
The tax, so far, has just been deferred. (Also, if it's only the $40 million referred to in the news release below, only the state's 6.5 percent sales tax would be forgiven. Tacoma, Pierce County and Pierce Transit could keep their shares of the tax. That's because the total amount of tax owed is about $59 million.)
Anyway, the reason I say "Don't get your hopes up" is because it's highly unlikely the Senate will go along with this proposal. It takes money out of the general fund, even though it's still several years off.
Still, it was nice of Rep. Larry Seaquist's colleagues to make him look good to his Gig Harbor constituents by passing the bill. And Republican Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, too.
Here is the news release.
House unanimously votes to remove Narrows Bridge sales tax
Measure would save toll payers $40 million
OLYMPIA – Legislators in the House have again voted to exempt the Tacoma Narrows Bridge project from having to pay sales tax, currently being deferred. Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, introduced the legislation receiving a unanimous vote off the House floor.
“This is a taxpayer fairness issue,” Seaquist said. “We’re being asked to pay tolls to build our own bridge—fine. But asking us also to kick in sales tax that will end up in the general budget is not right.”
Seaquist’s measure, House Bill 1463, would allow the new bridge’s construction sales tax, currently in deferral until 2013, to just be exempted instead. This would eliminate about $45 million from the tolls bridge users would have to pay on top of meeting the bond payment schedule.
The state shouldn’t stop with the Narrows Bridge, says Seaquist. He specifically cites the sales tax being collected on the ferry system’s diesel fuel purchases.
Now the bill moves to the Senate. “I know Senator Kilmer will work once again to get this passed. I know it will be an uphill battle up there, but we’re fortunate we have Derek Kilmer once again leading the attempt to finally get this problem fixed.”
