Snohomish County Young Democrats vote to oppose Edmonds car tax

The Snohomish County Young Democrats Tuesday night voted unanimously to oppose Proposition 1, which would add a $40 licensing fee to the current $20 fee now charged per vehicle in Edmonds.

This flat tax burdens struggling families more than wealthier ones, and has a disproportionate effect on young people and young families,” said Snohomish County Young Democrats President Randy Bolerjack. “We don’t oppose revenue packages for transportation projects, but this is a ridiculous fee that attacks the ability of struggling families to pay rent and buy food.”

You can read the entire release here:

Young Democrats oppose regressive car tax in Edmonds

Snohomish County Young Democrats unanimously vote to OPPOSE Edmonds Transportation Benefit District Proposition 1 (to increase car fees from $20 to $60)

Edmonds, WA:  Tuesday night, the Snohomish County Young Democrats voted unanimously to oppose Proposition 1, a new flat tax on cars. “This flat tax burdens struggling families more than wealthier ones, and has a disproportionate effect on young people and young families,” said Snohomish County Young Democrats President Randy Bolerjack. “We don’t oppose revenue packages for transportation projects, but this is a ridiculous fee that attacks the ability of struggling families to pay rent and buy food.”

“The 32nd Legislative District Democrats are meeting tonight. We urge them to follow our lead and support only progressive revenue packages in our community,” Bolerjack said. “Proposition 1 is not progressive.”

“It’s either hypocrisy or evidence of a fundamental misunderstanding of basic economics that some local leaders say they support Initiative 1098, which tries to eliminate our regressive tax system, while supporting Proposition 1, which reinforces it and burdens young, working families,” Bolerjack said. “If you support Proposition 1, you support regressive taxation – it’s as simple as that.”

Under Proposition 1, while a wealthy family and a poor family would both pay an extra $80 on two cars, the wealthy family will be using money from disposable income while the lower-income family will be using money that would go to necessities like baby food and rent.

  1. Prop 1 is not only regressive it is bad law.
    It commits Edmonds to an inflexible group of 37 projects which include sidewalks, bike signage, and the streets. Check the City’s own website to see the projects and the costs.
    The City’s own website inaccurately stated the tax would be $40 rather than a $40 increase. (It was changed recently). The proponents say it is a contribution. It is a tax, it is not voluntary.
    Why is the Sierra Club endorsing a “streets” bill?

  2. The 21st Legislative District Republicans passed a resolution last week at their monthly meeting in opposition to Edmonds Prop. 1 as well. Looks like there is a bipartisan agreement here that this is simply a bad idea.

  3. shouldve just added the $20 bucks and called it a day…making decisions w/out a well thought out plan just doesn’t cut it in today’s environment..Skippers,City Manager, etal..

  4. Does anyone know who is paying for the yellow ‘support prop 1’ signs now going up around town? I sure hope it’s not City money which makes a bad idea all the worse. Thanks.

  5. @Jim, I was wondering that too. Because those signs are political speech, they must report to the PDC. I have seen no PDC reporting.

  6. The supporters of Prop 1are having a meeting. Maybe they could answer a question about whose paying for the signs or someone could just come on here and answer the question.

  7. Here is the meeting time and place from their web site.

    Community meeting sponsored by Proposition 1 supporters Time and Place

    Edmonds Yacht Club at 11:00 AM to noon on Saturday, October 16th.

  8. The city wouldn’t have had any involvment with the signs because government bodies cannot take a position on issues before the voters.

  9. And that’s my understanding. I see no info on the signs to tell us who, so my mind begins to conjure-up possibilities like the road pavers of Snohomish County, etc.

  10. Proposition One Supporters is a registered political group and paid for the signs. Kristiana Johnson is our press spokesperson. I appreciate the dedicated support for young families and protecting them from unfair taxes. I might add that many young families are hoping that walkways and streets will be safe for their school age children.

    As many of you know the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax is no longer around. It provided 1.5 million in transportation funding for Edmonds. It also cost me $400 on my license tab. Now I have a chance to add $40 to get an extra $1million/year that may ONLY be spent in Edmonds for transportation. That’s a good deal to me.

  11. @Mr. Tibbott,
    You cannot express concern for young families and protecting them from unfair taxes and support this proposition at the same time.
    Proposition One is not going to solve the transportation funding issues in Edmonds. (By the way, the State Department of Licensing will be getting 1% of any tax collected by the TBD, so that not “may only be spent in Edmonds for transportation” is not quite true).
    No one opposes spending for streets and street improvements. So the “Streets YES” signs are meaningless. How we pay for them in a reasonable and fair way is the issue.
    Both the Democrats and the Republicans have resolutions opposing this Proposition. That should tell you something.
    The voters aren’t stupid. They know that this is not a “contribution”, it is a tax. They know that a 200% increase is outrageous. They also know that when Democrats and Republicans agree that it is a bad tax, then it is.
    By the way, NEW and BETTER are two different things. Edmonds deserves BETTER than Proposition One.

  12. @ Todd, Have we heard from the main stream Democrats? From what I’ve heard the 32nd voted to neither support or support. and the 21st has a meeting this Tuesday. There was a chance to come to a meeting and ask question of these people and only a handful of people showed up. Without funds we get no matching grants. Does anyone have a solution besides toll roads? Charge by the mile? Privatize? I’m interested in hearing some ideas.
    @ Michael, maybe just $20 would have been better, atleast we could get some overlays.

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