The effect on Sound Transit, which operates light rail, heavy rail, and express buses throughout much of Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties, would be especially dramatic-it’s funded by a local excise tax within the service area based on vehicle value-although just how dramatic would depend on outstanding bonds. State funding would also be at risk, including funding for improving its Access paratransit program. It would eliminate state and local funding sources that boost King County Metro, including a fee passed by Seattle residents that funds bus service in and around the city, plus programs for students and low-income riders. In Seattle, which almost always rejects Eyman’s initiatives, I-976 would have a dramatic effect on our expanding transit system. It’s frustrating for tax-fatigued citizens, but it’s also a strain on state and local budgets. With no income tax in Washington State-and with a change to the state constitution required to get one-we rely heavily on sales tax, property tax, and, occasionally, vehicle-licensing fees. The reasons why Eyman’s initiatives are so successful and why they’re so damaging to transportation budgets are two sides of the same coin: Washington State’s tax structure is one of the most regressive in the entire United States, meaning it places a higher burden on low-income residents. Here’s a primer on where our transit funding comes from, why it works that way, and how we got here. Local and state budgets are a deep, tangled web of revenue and regulation. If passed, the initiative would bar local communities from passing their own vehicle fees, effectively undoing two decades of voter-approved funding for local projects-and in Seattle, it largely affects public transportation. Still, the state ended up setting a base, flat fee of $30 for state vehicle registration, and eventually allowed local districts to approve their own fees on top of that. Here’s the context: State voters approved Eyman’s $30 car tab initiative in 1999, temporarily wiping out 7 percent of the state’s tax revenues-a $750 million deficit in state’s transportation budget-before being declared unconstitutional. The measure is a project of anti-tax crusader and “serial initiative filer” Tim Eyman, who successfully ran an almost identical initiative 20 years ago. Visit dol.wa.gov to see the services that are offered online.With 2019 general election ballots at most Seattle doorsteps by now, voters are being asked to weigh in on Initiative 976, which would cut vehicle license fees to a flat rate of $30 in most cases-but would gut funding for road and transit projects, or anything being funded by a vehicle registration fee. Through this partnership, King County also contracts with local businesses, called subagents, to offer convenient locations to conduct in-person licensing. King County partners with the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) to issue and renew vehicle and vessel licenses. The new location in Westwood Village is easily accessible with plentiful parking, including ADA parking right in front of the office.The new location will serve West Seattle, White Center and westside residents in their own communities, especially helpful now with the bridge issues.Initially, customers will need to pay with cash or check until the credit card system is set up. The owners of Seattle License Agency have no affiliation with the former owners of that company. This will be the first license agency in West Seattle to open following the closure of the former West Seattle License Agency at the end of 2019. He noted the great proximity to the Washington State Driver's license agency nearby on 25th SW where you can renew your personal license to drive. The company officers are Randy and Robyn Lais and Aaron Herbstritt. The official address is 2515 SW Trenton Street, Suite 103 Seattle, WA 98106-3209 We are honored to have the opportunity to support the West Seattle area. Randy also offered, "Quick Titles will begin the moment we have the state's computer software programmed for our office. You can also renew registrations, get a report of a sale, get trip permits and disabled placards. Owned by Randy and Robin Lais who also own the Port Orchard License Agency (opened there in 2011) the business now provides title and license services for vehicles, motorcycles, vessels, watercraft, travel and utility trailers. Seattle Auto Licensing celebrated it's grand opening on June 30 at Westwood Village.
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