2004/07/28 Council Agenda Packet

7 - may, RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION of the Everett City Council providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the city of Everett, at the primary election to be held on September 14, 2004 of a proposition authorizing the city of Everett to impose an additional 0.3 percent sales and use tax for the purpose of providing funds to meet current and future public transit service levels and other matters properly related thereto. • WHEREAS, the city of Everett operates public transit service through Everett Transit, a division of the city's transportation services department; and WHEREAS, in 1978, under the provisions of RCW 82.14.045, the qualified voters of the City of Everett approved the City of Everett's fixing and imposing a three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) sales and use tax to continue to fund public transportation; and WHEREAS, in 1995 the Washington State Legislature enacted a manufacturing sales tax exemption that provided approximately 4% of the operating budget for Everett transit; and WHEREAS, a citizen initiative and subsequent legislative action by the Washington State Legislature repealed the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax ("MVET") that provided approximately 15% of the operating budget for Everett Transit; and WHEREAS, between 1994 and 2003, total annual fixed route service hours provided by Everett Transit has decreased 5.4%; and WHEREAS, between 1994 and 2003, total annual paratransit service hours for people with disabilities provided by Everett Transit has increased 172%; and WHEREAS, Everett Transit has utilized its undesignated cash reserve in the amount of $125,000 per month since the end of 2000 to avoid further fixed route service decreases and to help fund additional paratransit service increases; and WHEREAS, the city of Everett has determined that the existing sales and use tax of 03% is insufficient to maintain current levels of service; and 16 1