City Council Briefed on 2 Percent Utility Levy for Street Projects

Today, during the Committee of the Whole meeting, Tacoma’s City Council was briefed on a Neighborhood Streets and Safety Improvements proposal that City staff will present at the July 23 City Council Meeting.

City staff is asking City Council to consider putting a resolution before the voters that would levy a 2 percent tax on gas, electric and phone company earnings for the sole purpose of providing sustainable, dedicated funding for street maintenance and safety improvements. The proposed ballot language specifies projects such as maintenance of City roads and bridges; pothole repairs; repaving of neighborhood streets; pedestrian safety improvements; sidewalk construction and repairs; and signal detection repairs. The levy would generate an estimated $10 to $11 million annually.

If council supports the proposal and places it on the general election ballot, voters will decide the election issue on November 5, 2013.