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I am typically opposed to regressive taxes and leaning on sales tax especially to fund services. But it's what we got.
So when @SeattleTRU asked me to sign onto this, I did with a little extra explanation. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-transit-fully-fund-the-seattle-tbd
So when @SeattleTRU asked me to sign onto this, I did with a little extra explanation. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-transit-fully-fund-the-seattle-tbd
A very poor household bringing in $25,000 a year and spending a third of their income on things subject to sales tax (common assumption in this income range as groceries & rent are NOT subject to it) spends about $8 a year for our current 0.1% STBD sales tax.
At $50,000 income, that number is around $12 for the current sales tax burden.
So doubling it adds $8 and $12 for those income ranges. Yes it's technically regressive because at higher incomes that 0.2% sales tax is a smaller percentage of income.
So doubling it adds $8 and $12 for those income ranges. Yes it's technically regressive because at higher incomes that 0.2% sales tax is a smaller percentage of income.
BUT, you can't even keep a car filled with gas much less buy a car for $12 a year.
If you're poor and dependent on transit to get to your, would you rather spend $12 and keep your bus route (or keep it at a frequency that means you get to work on time)?
If you're poor and dependent on transit to get to your, would you rather spend $12 and keep your bus route (or keep it at a frequency that means you get to work on time)?
That our transportation system is built mostly to support private car transportation is a HUGE burden. When folks can't afford to live where there's transit, they have to spend their income on keeping a car up. Even cheap used cars can cost thousands a year to maintain.
When folks DO live near transit, it's often unreliable and slow because of congestion caused primarily by low occupancy car traffic which is a tax on time and quality of life. Less time to be with family or any other activity. Losing jobs because of unreliable trips.
So yes, I hate regressive taxes, but I dislike more that folks might have to go buy a car they can't really afford because Metro had to cut their routes down entirely or till they are unusable.
Also, oldie but a goodie:
Cars are regressive taxation. https://fancybeans.com/2018/11/15/cars-are-regressive-taxation/
Cars are regressive taxation. https://fancybeans.com/2018/11/15/cars-are-regressive-taxation/
