Vancouver street funding recommendation delayed

A committee tasked with recommending long-term street funding solutions to the Vancouver City Council says it doesn’t have enough time to study the options before the July deadline, which means voters won’t be considering a ballot measure in November.

The Commission on Street Funding, which began meeting in April, had been asked to issue a recommendation by mid-summer in case the City Council wanted to put a funding measure on November’s ballot as part of the overall approach. The deadline to submit ballot measures to the county Elections Office is Aug. 4.

However, the commission, composed of representatives from the City Council, community, businesses and neighborhoods, notified the City Council on May 26 that its schedule didn’t allow sufficient time to consider community feedback and funding alternatives. Given that, the commission suggested the council not consider a ballot measure this year, and it asked for more time to review the matter.

The city launched an online interactive tool on May 12 to gather public opinions about street funding for six weeks.

Potential funding sources include license tab fees, higher business license surcharges, a sales tax hike and a property tax increase. The council has the authority to impose a $20 annual car license tab fee and raise business license surcharges. A public vote would be needed to hike sales or property taxes or to levy a car tab fee higher than $20.

According to a recent study, at the city’s current funding level of $22.6 million a year, overall street conditions will decline, and costs will skyrocket through 2035. This year, the amount of street work that should be done but is being deferred totals about $130 million. In 20 years, the amount of deferred maintenance will soar to $250 million at current funding levels, city staff said in April.

To use the interactive street-funding tool or learn more about Vancouver’s street system, funding options and outreach activities, go to www.cityofvancouver.us/betterstreets.

Questions? Email betterstreets@cityofvancouver.us.