Slog - Comments on Transit Agencies Facing Cuts http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts As King County Metro is mulling cutbacks to service (and the potential elimination of some voter-approved service upgrades) in the face of declining sales-tax revenues, our neighboring transit system to the south, Pierce Transit, just announced it is cutting 64 positions by laying off 19 employees and 13 contract workers and eliminating 32 unfilled positions. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, the agency says it will try to "keep the cuts from affecting service." Pierce Transit is also raising fares 25 cents. And that's in response to an anticipated $17.5 million deficit--a fraction of what King County Metro is anticipating.... Copyright 2008 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:46:59 -0800 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:48:23 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by ding dong ST has spent about $5 billion so far. $3.5 billion in tax revenue, $500 million in Federal grants, and $1 billion in bond sales proceeds. That should mean it has created 192,500 jobs. Not in your wildest transit wet-dream has ST's spending of billions of dollars come close to being the kind of job creation engine that APTA study suggests it should have been.

]]> ding dong http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186006 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186006 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:07:47 -0800 Comment by AJ @1: Federal money.

]]> AJ http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186073 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186073 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:35:12 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave whats the difference between federal money and state money if the multiplier effect comes down to a dollar period? Is federal money somehow magical?

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186112 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186112 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:59:44 -0800 Comment by John Bailo
Mass transit is not sustainable.

]]> John Bailo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186119 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186119 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:04:18 -0800 Comment by Madashell Regardless of how revenue is collected, I just don't get how King County is teeming with multimillionaires (thanks Microsoft, Nintendo, other high tech), yet county government and its services are in such a deep financial hole.
From what I've read, transit money troubles are not unique to this region. Transit agencies throughout the country are operating under budget deficits.

]]> Madashell http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186122 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186122 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:04:59 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave @5, cause we don't have a state income tax and rich people don't spend money at a rate proportional to their incomes. they have a propensity to save and invest.

would a state income tax be good? Maybe.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186132 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186132 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:10:40 -0800 Comment by Bellevue Ave well rather a county income tax, but i'd like to see them try it.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186144 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186144 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:16:50 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @6 - actually, rich people have a propensity to save here and spend in other countries.

A transaction tax on assets would work better.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186317 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186317 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:57:20 -0800 Comment by lorax There would have to be a constitutional amendment before even the state could pass an income tax. The county is even more limited in its taxing ability, which it has already used up. That's why they have to cut services. State law does not allow them to raise taxes.

]]> lorax http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186534 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186534 City Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:16:42 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @9 - not true. Our state constitution permits a flat one percent income tax with a single basic exemption (e.g. for a personal home or something).

Maybe the Socialist Republicans will propose that, with an exemption for money stolen from the middle class by their party elites.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186635 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/transit_agencies_facing_cuts#c1186635 City Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:48:23 -0800