Sound Transit lowers car-tax estimate for ST3 expansion plan

SEATTLE (AP) — Sound Transit has revised its estimated typical "cost per adult" down to $169 a year in higher taxes, if voters this fall approve the Sound Transit 3 expansion plan.

Our news partner The Seattle Times reports the decrease, announced Friday, is based mainly on the fact most people own cheap used cars. Previously, the ST 3 tax figure was $203 a year per adult.

ST3 calls for yearly tax increases of $80 yearly per $10,000 vehicle value, $25 per $100,000 of property value, and a sales-tax hike of 5 cents per $10 purchase.

The new taxes, plus existing taxes, would finance a 25-year, $54 billion program to extend light-rail lines to Paine Field, Everett, Redmond, Issaquah, Tacoma, West Seattle and Ballard, boosting the network to a half-million daily passengers.