HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 4119CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. 4119
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, OPPOSING INITIATIVE
1125.
WHEREAS, Initiative 1125 ("1-1125") will be on the state-wide ballot in November; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Renton, Washington, held a public meeting on
September 26, 2011, to consider its support or opposition of 1-1125; and
WHEREAS, the Council, at that meeting, heard testimony for and against 1-1125; and
WHEREAS, passage of 1-1125 would cause toll revenues to be treated the same as gas
taxes, to only be used for highway purposes and capital costs for the specific road project being
tolled, and would end when the project is paid for; and
WHEREAS, the effect of these limits on toll revenues would negatively affect the
sustainability of funding sources to build and maintain improvements to Interstate 405 and
Highway 167, improvements which directly benefit the commuting times and mobility for
Renton residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, 1-1125 threatens hundreds of current and future projects around the state.
Among those in danger are the Evergreen Point floating bridge replacement across Lake
Washington, Clark County's Columbia River Crossing and Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct; and
WHEREAS, some already planned mobility projects, like the improvements slated for SR
167 and 509 may face a funding crisis if 1-1125 is approved; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Financial Management found that 1-1125 would create a
problem in transportation funding in Washington, including sacrificing half or more of $123
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RESOLUTION NO. 4119
million in federal grant funding that is currently slated to be spent in Washington on
transportation projects and job creation; and
WHEREAS, if 1-1125 passes, the State Treasurer expects that bonds secured solely by toll
revenue would be eliminated as a financing tool for these bridges and highways, forcing state
and local governments to look for alternate funding, like the gas tax instead of user-fee based
tolling, for vital projects, meaning communities across the state will pay more; and
WHEREAS, 1-1125 compromises our ability to ensure that independent transportation
experts oversee important decisions, like monitoring performance standards, and allows toll
setting to occur at the whim of the legislature; and
WHEREAS, the State Treasurer recently noted just how dangerous politicizing this issue
is; the analysis found that the uncertainty created by allowing politicians to set toll rates will
cost Washington State billions in bond financing for important projects while increasing
financing costs for taxpayers by hundreds of millions;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The above recitals are found to be true and correct in all respects.
SECTION II. The Council opposes 1-1125.
SECTION II. The Council urges citizens to vote against 1-1125.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 26th day of September t 2011.
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Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk
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RESOLUTION NO.
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 26th day of
Approved as to form:
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
RES.1529:9/06/ll:scr