King County voters rejecting car-tax, sales tax measure to fund buses, roads

SEATTLE -- By 55-45%, King County voters were defeating Proposition 1, a measure that would have raised the sales tax and increased car tab fees by $60 per vehicle to  stave off Metro bus cuts and to fix roads.

Initial results released Tuesday night by King County Elections showed that approval of the proposition had 200,887 'no' votes (55.28%) to 162,508 'yes' votes (44.72%). Based on the estimate of voter turnout, the Seattle Times said supporters of the proposition would have to win 73% of the remaining ballots to be counted.

King County Executive Dow Constantine said Tuesday night that "it is mathematically possible for us to close this gap and ultimately win, but it seems to me pretty unlikely."



The proposition sought to increase car tab fees by $60 per vehicle and raise the sales tax one-tenth cent (now 9.5 percent in most of King County). Of that money raised, 60 percent would have gone toMetro Transit for bus service. and 40 percent to fund roads and transportation needs in cities and in unincorporated King County.

“Tonight’s results report will include more than 350,000 ballots, representing more than 94 percent of all ballots received by today,” said Sherril Huff, director of King County Elections.

The department will provide updated elections results at 4:30 p.m. on most subsequent weekdays until county certification of the election on May 6.

About 35 ballot measures were considered by voters in 21 counties Tuesday.  Marysville voters will decide the other transportation measure this month; the measure would authorize a 0.2% sales tax increase to preserve and repair city streets.

The Marysville measure was winning Tuesday night -- 3,479 votes (55%) to 2,890 votes (45%).

Out of the 35 propositions statewide, 17 were bond measures.

Tacoma voters were asked to weigh in on a neighborhood parks and zoo improvements measure. It was winning by a 2-to-1 margin. Tuesday's initial vote count showed 15,878 (63.65%) yes votes and 9,066 (36.35%) no votes.

















Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma

Approved 15,878 63.65%
Rejected 9,066 36.35%