Form revised June 11, 2010

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

Department:	Contact Person/Phone:	DOF Analyst/Phone:
Legislative	Mike Fong/5-1675	N/A

Legislation Title: A RESOLUTION stating the City’s intent to convene a Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee III to advise the Council on transportation funding alternatives and priorities.

· Summary of the Legislation:

The Seattle Transportation Benefit District’s (STBD’s) Governing Board, consisting of members of the City Council acting in an ex officio and independent capacity as authorized under RCW 36.73.065, has the power to impose an annual twenty-dollar vehicle license fee on vehicle owners in Seattle for the purposes of generate revenues for transportation purposes.  The STBD also has the authority under state law to seek voter approval for several other taxes and fees for transportation purposes. 

The City is also experiencing declining revenues for transportation purposes.  A prolonged recession, declining gas-tax receipts and general fund has contributed to the erosion of funding for basic transportation infrastructure maintenance and preservation.    

As a result, the City intends to convene Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee III (CTAC III) (with assistance from the Seattle Department of Transportation and Council staff) to provide recommendations related to the STBD and to review the City’s transportation funding system.

The resolution states the City’s intent to create CTAC III, the structure of the committee’s membership and outlines two specific sets of tasks: 1) develop a spending plan and project list specific for the use of revenues generated from a $20 annual vehicle license fee for 2012 and beyond and 2) to examine and review the City’s transportation funding structure and make recommendations regarding a potential list of projects as part of a future STBD ballot measure and other potential funding sources.

· Background:

It is currently estimated that $6.8 million in annual revenues could be generated from the STBD vehicle license fee.  SDOT revenues have been declining and as a result, the backlog of transportation maintenance and preservation projects continues to grow in spite of new revenues from the City’s Bridging the Gap funding sources (property tax levy and commercial parking tax).  Furthermore, the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plans identify millions of dollars in unfunded projects. The advisory committee will provide project recommendations for this new revenue source by June of 2011 for the 2012 budget process.

In addition, the advisory committee will explore other voter approved revenue options, identify potential projects and develop options for further consideration following a comprehensive review of SDOT’s sources of funding.

· Please check one of the following:

_X__ This legislation does not have any financial implications.