Transit tax 20 year impact for Orting

A blog reader shared that she wrote the following note to Representative Jim McCune and Senator Randi Becker, and received a response from McCune.

She emailed  me..."This is the info that I received from Jim McCune, I asked him to look into getting that tax off our license tabs, but sounds like they locked it in for about 20 more years.  So again, the small communities that are cut service, will continue to pay for something they didn't have and will have less of in the future. The east county area has a lot of low income people, and that added dollars on their cars, trucks, trailers, personal and work will continue to have to pay for the city people to ride the buses. This has been a beef with me for a long time..."

She emailed Becker and  McCune June 18, 2011...

"Thank you for all of your work this session.  Hopefully we are on our way to correcting some of the problems that we have created. In regards to the RTA tax, Pierce Co is cutting back service to many areas, including mine in Graham; how do we get that tax removed from our license tabs?  They even add the tax to my living quarters horse trailer;  my horse doesn't ride the train or the bus, but I am tempted to try just to make a point of it.  We are also retired so we don't ride the commuter train or bus anywhere."

McCune responded July 19, 2011... 

"Here is the information I received: After some extensive research, we cannot find a provision in the Sound Transit code allowing cities to redraw the lines on who is included and who is not within the Sound Transit boundaries.  There was a two-year window to be excluded from the Sound Transit boundaries from 1996-98, but this no longer applies.  If a city were to exclude itself from Sound Transit going forward, they would still have the taxes applied to pay off any existing bonds so we’re looking at least 20 years before you’re free and clear."

Sam Colorossi's Transit and Tax Perspectives

City Council member Sam Colorossi shared his perspective on yesterday's blog post with me in an email and gave permission for me to share it.

"In my mind these taxes are two very different programs with two different commitments.  First, the RTA tax, if my memory serves me right, was floated to the public many years ago for creating the taxing district to fund the RTA project in the Puget Sound Area. The measure failed at the polls.  So the members of the RTA committee studied the voting results and resubmitted the plan, only this time they gerrymandered the lines throughout all areas that voted favorably for the plan.  When they resubmitted the plan for the second vote it past and the taxing district was established.

I cannot remember if Orting was included favorably for being a part of the construction plan however I do remember seeing a rail line proposed as far south as McMillin.  So those living in Orting who voted favorably for the RTA system knew full well they would not see Orting become a local benefactor of the long range plan.  One of the taxing forms for this program is the tax on any vehicles that uses the highways system.  The tax is collected yearly based upon the value of the vehicle being licensed by the Motor Vehicle Department.

    

On the other-hand, the Pierce Transit tax is a part of the sales tax package.  Many years ago, the Orting City Council felt it would be nice to have bus service to Orting.  So they petition Pierce Transit to become a part of their taxing district.  But, first, this had to go before the citizens of Orting and be voted on.  The measure passed at the ballot and we began receiving bus service.  Not, all that smoothly, but none the less, we had service.  After several years Pierce Transit was having troubles generating enough bus traffic, to and from Orting, to pay the bills.  So, Pierce Transit cut our services in the late 1990’s. As Mayor of Orting at the time I, personally, threaten deannexation.  Pierce Transit acquiesced with a service called the “Orting Loop.”  This was a very limited, “on call service”, if you will.

Now, times have changed.  The economy is in the tank and Pierce Transit has had to make some very tough decisions.  That they have done.  They have chosen to discontinue service to Orting.  With that commitment, they have broken an agreement to provide us service especially since we voted our community into their taxing district.   We will soon have no service, so should the citizens of Orting have to pay a tax for something that we are not receiving? 

In my mind, we cannot equate the Pierce Transit tax with the RTA tax, and therefore agree with Mayor Temple’s position.  These are two different types of taxing commitments that were made over the past years."

Thanks to Sam for sharing his thoughts and the background on the issue. 

If you'd like your opinion posted on this topic or some other that effects Orting, please send me an email to jrmadison@comcast.net and please express your perspectives appropriately for family readership.

Colorossi and Transit photos from Google Images.

Tempted to put horse on Sumner train

An Orting reader responded to a Google News link that ran on my blog last week with the following email note to me regarding an exert from Orting Mayor Cheryl Temple.

"...the comment from the mayor, that we won't have bus service, does that mean that we can stop paying the RTA tax that they hit us with?  Even on my horse trailer I have to pay the RTA tax, I have been tempted to take the horse to Sumner and try to put her on the train, her vehicle pays the tax so she should be able to ride!!!"

The comment she was referring to was in a recent article in the Bellingham Herald that said, "Pierce Transit will no longer serve Orting and Buckley, and Bonney Lake and Sumner will see reductions, along with other parts of the county. In Orting, “we’re frustrated” by the loss of service, said Mayor Cheryl Temple. “Our ultimate goal is to find a way to serve the people.”

To read the entire article go to:

 http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/06/25/2076511/leaders-in-east-pierce-discuss.html#ixzz1SWTSXTaY

You can email your opinions and ideas to Mayor Temple at ctemple@cityoforting.org  or if you'd like them published here in the blog,  email them to me at jrmadison@comcast.net

A peek at the past

A short trip to the corner of Calistoga and Washington Avenue ( Hwy 162) in Orting, gives you a wonderful glimpse into days gone by, hometown 4th of July celebrations. The mural painted by Linda Petchnik on the side of the Nunnally Realty building depicts July 4, 1902.

The description with the scene says:  "The parade began at 10 a.m. with eight old soldiers proudly carrying the stars and stripes and marching to the band. Afternoon activities included pole vaulting, greased pole climbing, and tug of war. There was foot, bicycle, sack, and horse racing. The evening was pandemonium with the noise of rockets and firecrackers. The band gave a dance at the opera house." *

To help you get your bearings when you're looking at the mid-left of the mural, Thompson's Store is the site of Union Bank today. On the far right, the feed store is the site of Orting Law, office of Jacqueline McMahon, and to the left of that is the home that is owned today by David and Mary Inge and houses Orting Manor events venue business.

The gazebo in the center is near where a more modern version of the gazebo stands in the park today, and continues to be a gathering place for community events.

The reference to the dance at the opera house, is the building now known as Eagle's Hall at the corner of Bridge St., Corrin St.,  and Harman Way.

Take a peek at the past with a bike ride or walk around town to view the historic murals of Orting. Shoot me an email and let's visit a bit while you're here. Old friends or new, you'll love 'Orting, the small town with the big view!'

*Reference: The History of the Town of Orting. Research by Alice Rushton and Myron Thompson.