Mayor rejects 'Lone Ranger' approach to funding Metro, to offer plan next week

SEATTLE -- Mayor Ed Murray came out strongly Thursday against a proposed Seattle-only property tax to save Metro bus service from drastic cuts, and announced he will come out with his own plan next week.

"Seattle has always worked best when it works with the region," Murray said in a statement. "While there is no question that the region has failed Seattle on transit funding in recent years, it is equally true that transit is a regional issue that requires a regional solution.

"We must be careful in our approach here: Seattle as the Lone Ranger on transit risks the Balkanization of Metro and, to some extent, the isolation of our city from the surrounding region," he said.

"I appreciate the good efforts already under way in the community on this critical issue after the unfortunate failure of (King County) Prop. 1" in the April election. "Next week I will offer my own proposal for how we can best keep transit funded," he said.


Seattle has always worked best when it works with the region. While there is no question that the region has failed Seattle on transit funding in recent years, it is equally true that transit is a regional issue that requires a regional solution.

We must be careful in our approach here: Seattle as the Lone Ranger on transit risks the Balkanization of Metro and, to some extent, the isolation of our city from the surrounding region.

I appreciate the good efforts already under way in the community on this critical issue after the unfortunate failure of Prop 1. Next week I will offer my own proposal for how we can best keep transit funded, with the following key principles in mind:

- See more at: http://murray.seattle.gov/murray-failure-of-prop-1-creates-an-urgent-need-to-act-seattle-must-move-forward-now/#sthash.cei5ZXjG.dpuf
The mayor's comments were a big blow to supporters of proposed Initiative 118 who are collecting signatures now to put the measure on the November ballot.

I-118, which would raise property taxes in Seattle, would generate about $30 million per year to keep bus routes from being cut in the city. The cost for the average homeowner would be about $66 annually.

Political analyst C.R. Douglas offers his analysis of the issue in this video report.

 


Today seattle mayor ed murray came out strongly against a seattle-only property tax levy to save metro bus service...

arguing that it threatens to put the city at odds with the rest of king county. Murray says he favors a 'regional solution' instead.

that's a big blow to supporters of initiative 118, who are collecting signatures now for just such a measure on the november ballot.

they see it as the best hope of saving city bus service after last month's defeat of king county prop. 1.

i-118 would generate about $30 million per year to keep bus routes from being cut in the city of seattle. The cost for the average homeowner would be about $66 annually.

{***david***}

murray, who is under pressure to do something about impending bus cuts, says he will put forward a plan of his own next week.

{***marni***}

c.r. douglas joins us now on more with this story.

We must be careful in our approach here: Seattle as the Lone Ranger on transit risks the Balkanization of Metro and, to some extent, the isolation of our city from the surrounding region.

I appreciate the good efforts already under way in the community on this critical issue after the unfortunate failure of Prop 1. Next week I will offer my own proposal for how we can best keep transit funded, with the following key principles in mind:

- See more at: http://murray.seattle.gov/murray-failure-of-prop-1-creates-an-urgent-need-to-act-seattle-must-move-forward-now/#sthash.cei5ZXjG.dpuf