Initiative 976 changes vehicle taxes and fees by lowering motor vehicle and light duty truck weight fees to $30; eliminating the 0.3 percent sales tax on vehicle purchases; lowering electric vehicle and snowmobile fees; modifying and reducing Sound Transit motor vehicle excise tax provisions; and removing authority for transportation benefit districts to impose a vehicle fee. 976 ( I-976) is a ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Washington that appeared on the ballot on November 5, 2019. The Pierce County Council voted Tuesday to intervene in a lawsuit filed against Initiative 976, the so-called $30 car tab measure. The Senate Transportation Committee will hear three bills that seek to reimpose the entirety of or certain provisions of Initiative 976. The agency recently shared its “COVID-19 Response and Recovery Report” on October 8. Initiative 976 is an initiative to the 2019 Legislature proposed by Tim Eyman. Opponents of the initiative fear that its passage would take away money from ongoing transportation projects, including voter-approved measures, such as Sound Transit 3, while supporters claim that the initiative would end assessing practices that they claim are dishonest. You can read the Court’s decision by opening the PDF to the right or below. This ruling marks the end of the work to defeat I-976 and safeguard our bipartisan, voter-approved transportation investments. The state’s budget office estimates I-976 would eliminate more than $4 billion in tax revenue by 2025. I-976 is an Initiative to the Legislature that was filed for consideration in the 2019 legislative session. Washington Initiative 976 (I-976) was on the Nov. 5, 2019 ballot in Washington as an Initiative to the Legislature, a type of indirect initiated state statute.3 Frequently referred to as the $30 Tabs Initiative, the measure was set to take effect on Dec. 5, 2019, but has been delayed due legal challenges, which have largely been resolved. [2][3][4] The initiative would cap taxes on certain cars at $30 and put an end to transportation benefit districts and other local vehicle taxes. “Today’s decision is good news for the people of King County. Total No more price gouging. Getting rid of their dishonest vehicle tax gives back $7 billion to taxpayers. Initiative I-976 Update: Dear WSSA Members: King County judge Marshall Ferguson just announced an injunction on Initiative 976 ($30 tabs) while legal challenges move forward. 59% / No: 44. Enter your email address and name below to be the first to know. 976 (I-976) is a ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Washington that appeared on the ballot on November 5, 2019. Tim Eyman attacked Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s defense of I-976 in a letter sent on Thanksgiving. In addition to declaring I-976’s to be unconstitutional statewide, the court’s decision protects the ability of counties and jurisdictions… Visit kingcounty.gov/HealthierMetro to learn what Metro is doing to keep you healthy and how to best prepare for your next ride. [1][6] The governments of Seattle and King County, along with other groups from across the state, announced plans to halt the initiative through legal action, disputing the ballot language as "misleading to voters". [5], The ballot measure was passed, with 53 percent of voters in favor at the time of certification. I-976 threatened to eliminate or reduce funding for public transportation, bridges and roads, and other critical infrastructure and services across Washington. Which fare is right for you? I-976, which voters approved last week, caps car-tab fees at $30. 100.00%. Tag Archives: I-976. Motor Vehicle License Fees:$30 car tabs Repeal and remove authority to impose certain vehicle taxes and charges:Repeal and remove certain taxes; limit re… A King County judge has largely upheld Initiative 976, the voter-approved measure to cut car-tab taxes, in a rebuke to Seattle, King County and others who argued the measure was [9], On October 15, 2020 the Washington State Supreme Court struck down the initiative by ruling it unconstitutional because it "contains more than one subject and its subject is not accurately expressed in its title". Despite the challenges that transit and our region face, Metro remains committed to rebuilding a robust regional transit network that prioritizes safety, expands opportunity, reduces pollution, and tackles congestion. Last updated on 11/26/2019 4:55 PM. State officials had estimated I-976 would cause state and local governments to lose a total of about $4.2 billion in revenue for transportation and transit projects over the next six years. Pierce County’s vote tally on I-976 mattered. However, the State of Washington, Sound Transit, and 13 King County cities use these tax sources to fund mobility projects in King County, including many operated by Metro. Click the arrows to expand each section below. Initiative 976 would limit the amount of money the state can charge for vehicle tabs to $30. Sound Transit lied to voters about the costs. I-976 prevents state and local governments from artificially inflating the value of your vehicle(s) to bring in more taxes than they should. [10], Limits on Motor Vehicle Taxes and Fees Measure, "November 5, 2019 General Election Results: Initiative Measure No. Initiative 976 was designed to set annual license fees for vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds at $30 except voter-approved charges, base future vehicle taxes on the Kelley Blue Book rather than 85% of the manufacturer's suggested base retail price, and otherwise limit taxes and fees related to transportation. 976", "Initiative 976 poised to head to November ballot. [2] The practices include using out-dated fee schedules for assessing vehicles. Permanent Defense is working to defeat I-976 in partnership with allies who agree that these vital investments must be protected. It is a clear violation of RCW 42.17A.555. It seeks to wipe out billions of dollars in funding for Sound Transit Link light rail expansion, Amtrak Cascades, and WSDOT. On Thursday, October 15th, 2020, the Washington State Supreme Court struck down Tim Eyman’s Initiative 976 as unconstitutional. 976 - County Results. Mehr als 160 Projekte hat Quartiermeister bisher unterstützt. The Washington State Supreme Court decided that: "I-976 violates article II, section 19 because it contains multiple subjects and an … If the initiative had been upheld and the State Legislature had made across-the-board reductions, an analysis in 2019 estimated the impacts for Metro would have included 175,000 fewer bus service hours across 74 routes and significantly reduced funding for Access paratransit, electrification of the bus fleet, incentive programs for businesses and non-profits, RapidRide expansion, reduced fare support for qualified customers, roads and bridges, Sound Transit coordination, speed and reliability investments, transit-oriented development, and Vanpool. The initiative passed anyway, winning 53% of the vote in November 2019. “Transit and mobility investments will be central to our recovery as we rebuild from the economic devastation from the coronavirus pandemic, and I’m pleased to have this shadow of uncertainty lifted by the Court.”. In addition to declaring I-976’s to be unconstitutional statewide, the court’s decision protects the ability of counties and jurisdictions to provide transportation services and infrastructure to serve their residents. Yes: 55. I-976 threatened to eliminate or reduce funding for public transportation, bridges and roads, and other critical infrastructure and services across Washington. King County does not collect a vehicle license fee (VLF) or motor vehicle excise tax (MVET), the taxing sources that would have be repealed if I-976 had been upheld. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I-976 prohibits state and local govts from imposing dishonest vehicle taxes. It was to become law 30 days later on December 5. The DOL said I-976 only affected the licensing fees listed above. I-976, which voters approved earlier this month, caps car-tab fees at $30. 59% approval across the state. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Metro would like to thank the Washington State Legislature for maintaining funding during the 2019/2021 Biennium for the projects and programs that would have been impacted by the implementation of I-976 while it was being reviewed by the courts. [7][8], In February 2020, the King County Superior Court largely upheld I-976, but kept the measure on hold pending a ruling from the Washington State Supreme Court. Supreme Court denies stay of injunction, Initiative 976 remains on hold On 12/04/2019 By Kevin Schofield In legal , tax , transportation , transportation benefit district By a 6-3 vote, this evening the Washington State Supreme Court denied the Attorney General’s emergency motion for a stay on the preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of Initiative 976, the “$30 car tab” law. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. ST’s own report shows that I-976 … Initiative 976 -- to cap car tabs at $30 -- has maintained a lead (55% approved, 45% rejected) in a second round of vote tallying on Wednesday. Today, all nine justices of the Washington Supreme Court found Initiative 976 to be unconstitutional. [3][4] The campaign in favor of the initiative was led by Tim Eyman, Permanent Offense, and Voters Want More Choices, while the campaign against the initiative was led by the Northwest Progressive Institute. The initiative was brought to the state legislature by a petition sponsored by Tim Eyman. While voters had approved the initiative last November, implementation of I-976 has been stayed following a lawsuit heard in … “Our strong public transportation system aided King County’s economic growth during the past decade, is now helping our region’s recovery, and will be essential to rebuilding and connecting healthy, livable communities on the other side,” said Metro Interim General Manager Terry White. The $30 Tabs Initiative I-976 was approved by voters on November 5, 2019. It seeks to wipe out billions of dollars in funding for Sound Transit Link light rail expansion, Amtrak Cascades, and WSDOT. The recently passed initiative lowers car tab fees and other transportation-specific revenues, including locally imposed vehicle license fees. Permanent Defense is working to defeat I-976 in partnership with allies who agree that these vital investments must be protected. Initiative Measure No. We were especially concerned about the potential impacts of I-976 on our most vulnerable customers—including residents from lower-income communities, passengers with disabilities, and people of color—and the Court’s decision helps us best serve them and connect them with opportunity.”. SEATTLE — King County Executive Dow Constantine asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Wednesday to prepare a lawsuit challenging an … Initiative Measure No. Want to be notified when our article is published? The initiative would limit state and local vehicle license fees to $30 per year for vehicles 10,000 pounds or less, unless voters approved additional charges. Opponents concerned voters won't know full impact", "Eyman-Fagan initiative would eliminate many vehicle license fees, including Spokane's", "Tim Eyman says $30 car-tab initiative will be on November ballot", "Washington's car tab relief likely to play out on ballot", "Washington voters favoring Tim Eyman's I-976 to slash car-tab fees in Tuesday's election results", "Seattle, King County will sue to block $30 car tab measure", "Tim Eyman's car-tab measure on temporary hold, judge orders", "Washington Supreme Court strikes down I-976 to reduce car-tab taxes", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2019_Washington_Initiative_976&oldid=988222097, Articles containing potentially dated statements from November 2019, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 11 November 2020, at 21:06. “At King County, we are gratified to be able to continue to work with local jurisdictions, other transit agencies, and partners to fund safe, sustainable, and equitable mobility for all our residents,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine in a statement. Almost eight months after state voters approved car-tab tax cuts, the Washington State Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments about the legality of Initiative 976, … Washington voters are initially supporting Initiative 976 in early returns Tuesday evening, with 55. A judge in the King County Superior Court issued a temporary injunction in November 2019 and the case is pending further action. UPDATE: OCT. 15 AT 10 A.M. UPDATE: OCT. 15 AT 9 A.M. The Washington Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday on I-976, the so-called “$30 car tab fee” initiative run by Tim Eyman. Today, all nine justices of the Washington Supreme Court found Initiative 976 to be unconstitutional. Das Spektrum reicht vom Antirassismus-Projekt bis hin zur Initiative zur Reduktion von Verpackungsmüll. SEATTLE — A King County Superior Court judge on Thursday indicated he’s prepared to order major provisions of Initiative 976 be put into effect — just not yet. Initiative 976, which would cap car tabs at $30, was approved by voters last year but has not taken effect after being temporarily blocked. Results as of November 26, 2019. Check full election results here. The Legislature took no action on the initiative so it will be presented to voters during the next general election in November 2019. King County and Sound Transit offer new subsidized annual pass for riders in greatest need, North Link Connections: Open houses Oct. 20, 27, and 29 to discuss changes to bus service in 2021, King County Executive Dow Constantine in a statement. Initiative 976: A car tab decision and a referendum on Tim Eyman By Joel Connelly , SeattlePI Updated 12:16 pm PST, Tuesday, November 5, 2019 UPDATE 12-4-19: The state Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a voter-approved $30 car tab measure will remain on hold while a legal fight over the initiative's constitutionality plays out. Initiative 976 is an initiative to the 2019 Legislature proposed by Tim Eyman. Joint Lawsuit Filed, Injunction Sought Over Initiative 976 - Seattle, WA - King County, Seattle, and several Washington transit authorities allege I-976 violates parts of the state constitution. [update] Initiative Measure No. The state Supreme Court heard virtual oral arguments Tuesday about the constitutionality of the initiative to lower the cost of car tabs that voters passed last year. [5] Unsuccessful attempts were made to require the use of more recent fee schedules in the state legislature. I-976 is a do-over for voters now that we know the truth. The initiative was brought to the state legislature by a petition sponsored by Tim Eyman. The latest statewide results showed approval of the initiative by a 55-45 percent margin. Join us at Voter-Approved transportation investments ballot initiative in the U.S. state of Washington that appeared on the was! That was filed for consideration in the U.S. state of Washington that appeared on the initiative was to... 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