The latest King County Budget includes a water taxi demonstration project in Renton. The project is a small part of a new tax that the County Council just imposed, to support a ferry district.
While I am am generally not a fan of new taxes, I’m glad that this one will come with a benefit for Renton residents. The Renton Water Taxi seems like an exciting concept, and it looks like many of you are also enthusiastic about it based on your comments. The route has not yet been determined…I suspect you may have an opportunity to help select it.
Here is the story.
• A property levy of 5.5 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation will fund a ferry district that will operate the Vashon Island passenger ferry and the Elliott Bay Water Taxi and will pilot several other ferry routes. The tax will cost the owner of a $400,000 home $22 a year.
Taxes
I’m also willing to support ferries through that tax, since it really has the potential to benefit a lot communities, and the amount of money is trivial. However, if it ends up supporting only the Elliott Bay water taxi and Vashon ferry, then that’ll make me mad. Only the communities served by the ferries should be taxed for them.