Council 2 is opposing Initiative I-695.The Union’s officials believe that, if approved by voters on Nov. 2, the initiative would have a severe impact on county and city income and therefore on many Council 2 members, too.
The initiative seeks to replace the state’s motor vehicle excise tax with a $30 flat fee for all vehicles. It would replace the present structure, which provides a sliding scale for license tabs depending on the age and make of the vehicle.
“The potential effect on staffing for local government will be devastating,” explains Pat Thompson, director of Legislation/Political Action for Council 2.
“The price tag to the state and local government tops $1 billion.”
Counties alone would lose $80 million in funding, Thompson adds.
Council 2 is working with a diverse coalition of labor, business and local government advocates to draft a plan to defeat the initiative.
“We are using focus groups and polling data to develop a message that will resound with voters,” Thompson says.
The strongest message in the campaign will be the devastating impact that the initiative would have on traffic problems.
Hundreds of millions of dollars set aside for helping to ease traffic congestion will be gone if the initiative passes, Thompson explains.
Police and fire services, health programs and mass transit also would be affected.
The elimination of income therefore would hurt many Council 2 members, he adds.
“This is another example of how we have to be vigilant about the political process,” Thompson says.
“What appears to be a popular idea — $30 for your tabs — has an enormous price tag for our membership.”
