Can counties levy a local option fuel tax for local transportation improvements?
Yes, the authority has been in place since 1990, through RCW 82.80.010. Any county may levy a local option fuel tax of up to 10% of the state motor vehicle fuel tax, currently $0.375 per gallon. The commission or council must first approve the measure and then have it approved by a majority of the voters. The proceeds are then distributed to the county and its cities and towns based on a formula where each county resident is given a weight of 1.5 and each city and town resident a weight of 1.0. For example, if there are 400 people in the unincorporated area, they would be counted as the equivalent of 400 x 1.5 = 600 people. If there are 300 people living in cities and towns, then the total “population” is 600 + 300 = 900. The county share would be 600/900 = 66.6%. Finance – Property Tax • Is the property tax levy rate established by a city council subject to the initiative process? No. This is a power that has been specifically given to the city council for all classes of city and so i
