Metro CEO Announces Revised November Sales Tax Proposal

Phil Washington outlines the latest version of Metro's sales tax expenditure plan. Photo: Joe Linton
Phil Washington outlines the latest version of Metro’s sales tax expenditure plan. Photo: Joe Linton

In a press briefing this afternoon, Metro CEO Phil Washington announced the latest changes to Metro’s planned November sales tax ballot measure. The proposal, which Washington calls “the most comprehensive in the country,” will be voted on by the Metro board in late June.

The biggest change today is that sales tax will have no sunset. Metro’s earlier expenditure plan would have lasted for only 40, 45 or 50 years. Washington’s “once and for all” new sales tax would continue indefinitely.

The lack of a sunset allows for better financing, especially in later years. This frees up monies to accelerate projects, both rail and highway, and to add a few new projects. Accelerated projects would include: Orange Line grade separation, Green Line to Torrance, West Santa Ana Branch rail, Gold Line extension east, Crenshaw North, and other projects.

The new plan also shifts funds slightly in a few categories, including increasing funds for local return and Metrolink. The new version of the plan increases local return from 16 percent to 17 percent, with a later increase to 20 percent in 2040. Metrolink funding would be increased from one percent to two percent. Administration and rail construction would be reduced by one percent each.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Metro: Sales Tax Proposal Has Overwhelming Support

|
So, maybe the death of Mike Feuer’s legislation to lower the voter approval threshold for a sales tax increase from 67% to 55% isn’t such a big deal after all. Buoyed by recent support by business owners and west side rail riders, a new poll by Fairbank, Maslin, Maulin & Associates (FMM&A) on behalf of […]

City Council Endorses Sales Tax Plan

|
Despite opposition from several key members, the Los Angeles City Council endorsed Metro’s sales tax proposal and expenditure plan.  An earlier motion called on Metro to fund certain projects, such as a streetcar for the downtown and a Green Line extension to the airport, but an amendment offered by Council Transportation Committee Chair Wendy Greuel […]

Counting Down to Tomorrow’s Metro Board Meeting

|
Tomorrow is the Metro Board of Directors Meeting where the fate of the proposed sales tax proposal will be discussed and voted on for the final time. Before their ballot measure can be voted upon by the general public, it must also be approved by the state legislature. There’s a lot of things that still […]

New Draft Spending Plan Increases Highway Dollars

|
Yesterday, the Bottleneck Blog reported on the breakdown of highway expenditures that Metro is proposing if the proposed half cent sales tax increase is successful in this fall’s election. Snoble was most likely trying to counter some of the spin coming out of the San Gabriel Valley that they are getting less than their fare […]

BRU ‘Blowsback’ at Metro’s Sales Tax Proposal

|
One week after Metro moved a half cent sales tax to the fall ballot, the Bus Rider’s Union launched it’s first attack in the press against what it terms, "The MTA’s sales-tax boondoggle" in today’s on-line "Blowback" section of the Times. The BRU breaks their attack into two arguments: that the funds generated by the […]