Sound Transit’s latest scam, Sound Transit 3 (ST3), doesn’t give taxpayers living in East King County, South King County, and Pierce County a whole lot of bang out of their buck. Sound Transit officials recently admitted that it will spend “only 18% of ST3 rail and bus money on service in East King County” but is happy to “funnel double that, 36% of new tax money, to serve people living in Seattle and the immediate area.”
Sound Transit’s figures reveal that ST3 would spend a disproportionate amount in the North King and Snohomish subareas. The Washington Policy Center points out:
“Sound Transit officials would divert spending to the Snohomish and North King subareas while East King, South King and Pierce would continue to pay more and receive less. For example, residents in the Snohomish subarea pay 12% of the local taxes Sound Transit officials’ spend. Yet if Sound Transit officials’ impose their proposed taxes, they would direct 21% of rail and bus spending to the Snohomish area.”
The Seattle Times editorial board recently asked, “Would suburbs get a fair return on their Sound Transit investment, especially compared to costly tunnels and spurs proposed for Seattle neighborhoods?”
It appears the answer is “No.”
The next question is, how will Sound Transit attempt to explain away the disproportionality?
Or will Sound Transit just continue to make things up?
