transit tax | newsobserver.com projects

Transit tax? Maybe next year

Submitted by markjohnson on August 14, 2009 - 5:48am.

Because of the statewide sales-tax increase, Triangle transit advocates are likely to wait until late 2010 or 2011 to ask local voters for a similar hike that would generate $73 million a year for buses and light-rail trains.

"It will not be any time soon, in my humble opinion," said Joe Bryan of Knightdale, a Wake County commissioner and chairman of CAMPO, the Raleigh-area transportation planning board.

The General Assembly authorized Wake, Durham and Orange counties to levy a half-cent sales tax that could be spent only for transit if local voters give their approval in a referendum. The action came days after legislators passed a budget that raised the state sales tax a full penny.

Local governments also won the power, without voter approval, to generate another $13 million a year for transit with a $10 increase in car registration fees for all three counties and a property-tax increase of 10 cents per $100 valuation in Research Triangle Park. Those measures create the possibility of $86 million in new local fees and taxes for transit. None of the increases are expected to be adopted until at least next year. (N&O)

Transit tax option okayed

Submitted by markjohnson on August 10, 2009 - 9:15pm.

The House gave final approval late Monday to legislation allowing Triangle counties to raise the sales tax by 1/2-cent to pay for light rail and more buses.

House members voted 73 to 40 to let Wake, Orange and Durham counties boost the sales tax by 1/2 percentage point, if voters approve. The money would help bankroll a 25-year regional plan that would link Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill by light rail and put 300 new buses on the roads.

The Senate already approved the bill

Guilford and Forsyth counties in the Triad also could vote to raise the sales tax for transit money.

The legislation allowed every other county, except Mecklenburg, to vote on a 1/4-cent transit tax increase. Mecklenburg already has a 1/2-cent transit tax added to its sales tax rate.

Some lawmakers questioned whether voters would rally behind a tax increase during a recession and after the legislature just voted to raise the sales tax statewide by an additional penny, or percentage point.

The bill authorizes two other sources of transit revenue in the Triangle: an increase in the transit car registration fee and Research Triangle Park landowners could pay a transit tax of 10 cents-per-$100 property valuation.

Quick Hits

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on April 22, 2009 - 8:54am.

* U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre tells Wilmington TV station "you never say never" when asked about running for Senate.

* Transportation blogger Bruce Siceloff notes that the House gave preliminary approval to a local-option sales tax for bus and trail transit.

* Mark Binker notes that a McGuire Woods staffer who worked for (then Lt.) Gov. Beverly Perdue's campaign is lobbying for video poker.

* Plastic bag manufacturers have announced they'll use 40 percent recycled material by 2015. They called Dome about it because of this.