Parks or Transit?

That’s not really the question, but the Seattle City Council wants to put a levy for $140 million~$240 million parks levy that would cost the typical Seattlite $104 per year. About what ST2 would cost per person. Why is no one screeching complaints about the “largest civic project in State history?!?!” About the same price. Just sayin’.

The Mayor at least is against the City’s proposal, and would rather save voter’s spending mindsets on ST2. Mayor Nickel’s seems increasingly to be the best proponent for rapid transit in our area.

Nickels, the board chairman for Sound Transit, has favored going to the ballot this fall with a proposal to extend light rail, though the board has not decided whether to run a measure in 2008 or 2010. The package would likely call for a sales-tax boost of 4 or 5 cents on a $10 purchase, or a yearly cost of $100 or $125 for the average household. It would extend the future light-rail line and increase commuter train and bus service.

Last fall, voters rejected the Roads and Transit ballot measure, offering highway projects and 50 miles of light-rail expansions.

Next year, the mayor plans to ask voters to renew the low-income-housing levy.

One thing I want to point out: a property tax levy is not more progressive than a sales tax. There seems to be this common misconception that renters don’t pay property taxes, and it’s only those who own homes who do. Think about this: if costs of garbage pick-up increased dramatically, would your landlord charge you for that, provide fewer garbage cans (or something), or just agree to pay the difference out of the kindness of his heart? He’d raise rent because he needs to make money. The same thing for property taxes. If property taxes go up, your landlord’s property taxes go up, and he passes that onto you in a rent increase. The reason that property tax increases aren’t more progressive is that the poor spend the largest percentage of their income on housing. Affordable housing is hard to find.