The Yakima Herald’s Sunday, March 23, 2008 editorial is ‘spot on’. The last couple of sentences sums it up:
Council members must undertake a thorough look at all needed street projects, list them in detail and then decide whether the car-tab increase is the only realistic way to pay for them. If and when a majority of the panel agrees on that, it then behooves city officials to build a case and undertake a massive informational campaign to convince voters — since a majority of council members has already committed to passing any final decision on the tab increase to them.
The needs are evident to anyone driving around the city.
Now we need a credible, specific and prioritized plan for improvement and evidence that car tab fee hikes are the only realistic funding mechanism.
If we are headed to a ballot measure, then we better not see a repeat of shallow support like the school levy. There are projects already identified and it shouldn’t take long to agree on the needs and prioritizations.
Remember at least 20% of major arterials were failing 2 years ago. I doubt that they are healing themselves.
The “three amigos” (Bill Lover, Micah Cawley, & Rick Ensey) are working on procedures to dodge votes that involve tax increases. Should they continue pursuing this tactic they would be doing Yakima residents a disservice. If they don’t agree that this infrastructure needs addressing then they should say so and work to convince voters that repaving isn’t needed. If they see the need then their obligation is to recommend funding. Remember last year? The promise of hiring extra police without a tax increase resulted in ZERO extra police and an enormous waste of staff time and taxpayer money.
The council needs to identify an ongoing revenue stream that resonates with voters. The $20 car tab appears to be the most promising and relative source. I’m all ears on alternative funding. Let’s see if the self-described ‘fiscal conservatives’ come forward with a proposal to vote on or if they find a way to duck the issue. This will be interesting. They all got elected saying they were against taxes unless the voters wanted them. But now they must lead by endorsing a tax proposal or do nothing! Poor little amigos! Bruce Smith won’t be able to help them out of their predicament, for he is in the same corner!