Posted by TimEyman at 10/08/08 12:41PM        Post ID#: #626

We’re very proud of Initiative 985’s no-new-taxes transportation policies. They’re positive and important. But they’re not the primary reason we’ve sponsored I-985.

In 2005, voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative 900 which gave State Auditor Brian Sonntag, Washington’s most trusted elected official, the authority to conduct independent, comprehensive performance audits of state and local governments. In the years since its passage, he’s hired outside experts to learn how state and local governments can spend our tax dollars more effectively. He’s completed 11 audits, made 499 recommendations, and identified $3.2 billion in potential savings. But rather than embracing Sonntag’s reform recommendations, Olympia keeps ignoring them.

Olympia continues to view Auditor Sonntag as an adversary when they should view him as an effective ally. He’s providing them with a spoon-fed roadmap of strategies to reform government without raising taxes. He’s giving them savings that’ll solve the upcoming budget deficit (ironic that he’s identified $3.2 billion in potential savings and the latest forecast predicts a $3.2 billion deficit).

Our primary motivation for I-985 is to show Olympia that voters don’t want higher taxes; they want government to spend more effectively the money they’re already taking from us by implementing Sonntag’s growing list of audit recommendations.

So we picked the performance audit on the state’s abysmal failure improving transportation as the voters’ cattle prod to get Olympia’s attention. Sonntag’s report on transportation made 22 recommendations – Olympia ignored all of them.

I-985 implements common sense reforms based on recommendations from Auditor Brian Sonntag’s thorough investigation.

Requiring local governments to synchronize traffic lights on heavily-traveled arterials and streets – this single reform reduces traffic congestion 6-7% (more on this below). Clearing out accidents faster – absolutely. Opening carpool lanes to everyone during non-peak hours – it’s what other states do (besides, we all paid for those lanes, we all oughta be able to use them at least some of the time). But politicians arrogantly refuse to implement ANY of Auditor Sonntag’s recommendations.

Taxpayers pay billions in taxes and fees every year – they deserve to get transportation improvements that'll make things better for everyone. Sonntag’s audit and I-985 advocate getting better use from existing streets and highways WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. Approving I-985 tells politicians that voters want this approach.

Let me put an exclamation point on I-985’s traffic light synchronization requirement. Every city and county in the state will benefit from I-985’s mandate that traffic flow be optimized within each jurisdiction, especially since I-985 provides state funds to pay for its costs. A lot of people never get on a highway to get to work; they're just trying to get from one end of town to the other and shouldn’t have to hit a red at every single light. I-985 makes sure you won’t.

Lynnwood is a national model with digital, minute-by-minute traffic flow optimization. As reported by the Everett Herald: “Working from a cramped collection of cubicles inside City Hall, these techno wizards operate what at least one outside expert considers to be one of the best traffic management centers around. ‘The whole system is coordinated to give the best possible outcomes to traffic flow,’ director Jeff Elekes said.”

I-985 guarantees that Lynnwood’s optimized traffic flow program will be available within the borders of all 281 cities and 39 counties and won’t require a penny of city or county funds to pay for it.

I-985 dedicates existing transportation-related revenues that are currently being diverted to non-transportation spending.

I-985 DOESN’T RAISE TAXES, instead it dedicates red light camera profits, a small portion of vehicle sales taxes, and “1/2% for reducing congestion” for any transportation-related project (money previously spent on public art) to reducing congestion. I-985 guarantees that tolls on a project won’t be diverted away from that specific project, preventing tolls from becoming just another pot of money for politicians to spread around. And I-985 empowers Auditor Sonntag to track revenues and expenditures, helping implement I-985’s reforms and reporting regularly to the public on its progress.

Washington is the 5th highest taxed state in the nation – I-985 keeps us from hitting #1.

Opponents’ proposals force taxpayers to pay more – I-985 forces politicians to spend existing revenues more effectively, implementing immediate, cost-effective solutions. Sonntag hired world-class transportation experts – their professional, independent analysis showed Sonntag’s reforms will reduce congestion 15-20%, provide $3 billion boost to our state’s struggling economy BENEFITING EVERYONE.

Taxpayers are tapped out. I-985 tells politicians to prioritize, spending what we already pay more effectively. Let’s tell politicians: don’t take more from taxpayers, adopt Sonntag’s growing list of audit recommendations. Vote “Yes” on I-985.

http://www.ReduceCongestion.org

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