I-976, the newest car tab debacle

“Buy the ticket, take the ride,” or so wrote journalist Hunter S. Thompson in his book “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”

While the context of Thompson’s comment was certainly different, on the surface it’s perfectly relevant for I-976, the newest car tab reduction effort placed on next month’s ballot by serial initiative activist and anti-tax campaigner Tim Eyman.

His fourth effort to reduce the cost of taxing licensed vehicles in the state, if passed, would pull a $2 billion rug of funding from under transportation-related budgets over the next five years alone.

The fund for rural arterials that crisscross the West Plains, for example, would lose an estimated $5 million, while budgets for organizations like the Washington State Patrol would be gutted by $88.57 million.

Smaller communities like Airway Heights, Cheney and Medical Lake, who rely on grant funding to help maintain their streets, would lose out as well.

Medical Lake recently received over half a million dollars in grant money from the state Transportation Improvement Board. Under I-976 the TIB budget would be reduced by $4.27 million, a cut that would have a direct impact on small, already tax-starved communities who rely on grants to keep roads from falling apart. With a smaller bucket of money to distribute, grants would likely shrink and become more competitive at the same time.

“If there isn’t a fund source we won’t make improvements to our streets,” Doug Ross, Medical Lake city administrator said.

And it doesn’t end with just transportation, especially for smaller communities. A minimal amount of maintenance is still required if only to minimize tort claims and other issues that could arise from unmaintained streets.

There is a potential underlying ripple effect from anti-tax initiatives. Funds from other city departments such as parks and recreation may need to be diverted to transportation budgets for street repairs.

“Unintended consequences are very real,” Ross said.

In the argument for the initiative in the voters pamphlet, proponents write, “Taxing a $10,000 vehicle like it’s a $25,000 (vehicle) is fraud. I-976 repeals the dishonest valuation schedule politicians are currently using to artificially inflate your taxes.”

Yet a similar fraud seems inherent in I-976 — the licensing reduction would also apply to luxury activities such as snowmobiling. While the owners of snowmobiles, a nonessential, mostly recreational activity, currently pay a $50 annual licensing fee that goes into a snowmobile account. I-976 would also lower those to $30, rather than adding a “sin tax” for those who can afford to enjoy such an arguably frivolous activity.

Nobody likes paying taxes. But like it or not, we currently live in a transportation-centric society where getting from point A to point B requires safe, well-maintained roads.

While the methodology of taxing all vehicles at nearly the same price may reek of inequality, mindlessly establishing what is essentially a flat tax on vehicles is not the answer.

Some use our public roadways more than others. Any vehicle tax reform should logically and equitably take individual use — miles traveled — into account. Rather than take a chainsaw to how our roadways are funded, let the Legislature do their job and debate the issue in public view and let their constituents hold them accountable for doing so.

A flat $30 licensing fee is not the answer. It hurts society as a whole far more than it helps individuals.

If you want to take the ride, and want to do so on safe, well-maintained roads and traffic infrastructure, the ride must be paid for — somehow. So remember: when you receive your auto license renewal notice in the mail, rather than gripe about the cost, think of it as your opportunity to buy the ticket to take your ride.

And when your mail carrier delivers your ballot, remember that driving comes at a cost that $30 won’t cover.

Lee Hughes can be reached at lee@cheneyfreepress.com.