Washington House Democrats

2005 Transportation Package: County Revenues and Projects

July 2005

2005 Transportation Partnership Document from Washington State Dept. of Transportation showing county by county results and regional results. Data is provided both in data form, and in graph form. Transportation Partnership Act of 2005 - Summary and Highlights (PDF version here, includes all charts and images) What the 2005 Transportation Partnership Act Funded: Washington State Department of Transportation More information  »

Questions have been asked about how much gas tax money is raised in each county, compared to how much is spent on projects in each county. Some have specifically asked if people living outside the Puget Sound area are paying for the mega projects in the Puget Sound (King, Pierce and Snohomish counties).

The State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) has just completed an analysis that shows how transportation dollars will be raised and spent throughout the state, for the ten-year period from 2006 - 2015. The analysis is attached, and it shows county by county results, as well as a regional analysis.

SUMMARY

When all transportation revenues and expenditures are compared county by county, revenues and expenditures are in balance between the Puget Sound region and the rest of the state. The Puget Sound region raises $14.3 billion in taxes, and receives $14.3 billion in projects. The rest of the state raises $13.85 billion in taxes, and receives $13.84 billion in projects.

DETAIL

The analysis looks at transportation revenue at three stages:

• "Pre-existing revenues", which includes the original 23 cent gas tax that was in place before 2003, plus other state and federal transportation taxes; motor vehicle licenses, permits and fees; ferry fares; rental car tax, bond proceeds, federal highway trust funds and federal transit administration funds.
   
• The 2003 "nickel package"



• The 2005 9.5 cent package.

Finally, it considers the entire transportation revenue, all state and federal sources named above. In brief, the analysis shows that

• When considering the pre-existing revenues, including the 23 cent gas tax, the Puget Sound region will contribute $1.65 billion for projects throughout the rest of the state. The region pays $8.9 billion in taxes, but receives just $7.2 billion in projects. The balance of $1.65 billion in Puget Sound tax revenue is spent on projects in other parts of the state.
   
• When considering the 2003 "nickel package", the Puget Sound region receives $391 million more in projects than it raises in taxes.
   
• When considering the 2005 9.5 cent package, the Puget Sound region receives $1.2 billion more in projects than it raises in taxes.

OVERALL, considering all state and federal transportation revenue and projects from 2006 - 2015, revenues and expenditures are in balance between the Puget Sound region and the rest of the state.

• The Puget Sound region raises $14.3 billion in taxes, and receives $14.3 billion in projects.
   
• The rest of the state raises $13.85 billion in taxes, and receives $13.84 billion in projects.

This information has been prepared in response to specific questions about the provisions and effects of ballot measure and is provided for legislative purposes only; it is not provided as an expression for or against the ballot measure.