Pierce Transit propose an  increase in sales tax to pay for bus system

Valerie Ettenhofer
Staff Writer

In late June, the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners decided upon a change that may have far-reaching consequences for Pierce College students.

After a month of weighing their options, the board members chose to propose a .3% increase in sales tax to local voters in November.

Revenue raised from the tax increase would go towards Pierce Transit, the bus system that many community college students rely on for transportation to classes and even to work. 70% of the bus system runs on sales tax collection.

Bus drivers are likely on board with the changes, although a Fort Steilacoom driver was not allowed to comment.

In the past sixteen months, the bus system’s budget has been cut by 1/3, causing the elimination of some stops and employees and, according to chairwoman Marilyn Strickland, making quality service difficult.

In a recent News Tribune article, Strickland was credited with thinking that “Pierce Transit needs the revenue to provide good bus service, especially for low-income riders, people who are disabled, senior citizens and students”.

Some Pierce College students who use the bus agree.

Returning student Ameer Yarbrough commented, “I think [raising taxes for Pierce Transit] would be smart. I know a lot of those buses aren’t really updated and they’ve been around for a while.”

In simple terms, the proposed tax would force citizens within Pierce Transit lines to pay an extra three cents on every purchase of ten dollars or more.

The Board agreed on that number after contemplating many options by projecting possible scenarios, including the addition of a sunset clause, which would allow the tax to expire after a period of time.

Since the economic recession began in 2008, Pierce Transit has made every effort to save money, cutting 111 million dollars and focusing on getting as many people where they need to be as expediently as possible.

If voters react positively to the change in taxes, it’s possible that the Board could propose an increase to the legal tax limit of .9% by next April.

Members of the community who don’t utilize public transportation may not be happy with any tax increase.

Pierce College student Mike Parlacoski noted that forcing everyone to pay more for the buses would “definitely suck”. He believes that the current transit budget should be enough, saying, “As far as maintaining the buses, if [transit] just did their jobs then they wouldn’t have to make other people pay to keep them clean.”

If the November 6th vote passes, some voters will surely be dissatisfied. Even allowing for the eventual .9% tax, only a fraction of the originally cut budget (28 million dollars a year) will be made available again.

Whether that means that a higher tax should be put into effect or that the transit system should adapt to a lower budget is up to voters to decide.