LYNNWOOD — A government board in Lynnwood has decided against reducing the annual $40 fee for car tabs.
The vote last month was 7-0 at the Lynnwood Transportation Benefit District, which has the same members as the Lynnwood City Council. Some of the members had in recent years suggested cutting the fee or getting rid of it altogether.
The city’s transportation team has said that either of those options would affect their ability to maintain and improve roads and sidewalks.
The district’s revenue must be used for road and transportation programs in Lynnwood.
The license plate fee started at $20 in 2010 and was doubled in 2016. The higher rate brings in about $1.2 million a year altogether.
That is combined with sales tax and utility tax income for a projected total of $3.54 million for 2018. The bulk of that is spent on paving. For example, this year saw the completion of 12 miles of chip sealing.
“The money is being put to good use,” said David Mach, with Lynnwood public works.
Some of the funds are set aside for such major projects as those around 36th Avenue W, 196th Street SW and the Poplar Way bridge extension over I-5. The ongoing 36th Avenue construction continues into next summer, he said.
The 196th Street work is nearing the bidding phase, likely to start next year, and Poplar Way is waiting on additional funding.
Lynnwood’s car tab fees are in addition to what is charged by the state and Sound Transit. The total fees for a vehicle owner in Lynnwood run roughly $150-$475.
The district’s next meeting is set for March.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.
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