Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 25, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke signs bill allowing new revenue for King County Metro

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today signed into law a bill that allows King County to collect an additional sales tax for public transit.

County officials already approved a local-option tax increase that was authorized by the Legislature last year to offset transit districts' loss of motor vehicle excise tax revenue due to passage of Initiative 695.

SHB 1125 was needed to make the additional King County sales tax of two-tenths of 1 percent (0.2 percent) completely consistent with state law.

"This makes a significant contribution by easing traffic congestion and providing an alternative to driving," Locke said. "This is a step in the right direction to finding solutions for our gridlock around the Puget Sound area."

What the bill does is make hotels and motels with more than 60 units exempt from the additional King County tax - because imposing the local-option tax on these businesses would upset the uniformity achieved by 1997 legislation on application of local-option taxes.

The bill the governor signed today was necessary before the county could collect the additional tax, which goes into effect starting April 1.

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Related Links:
- Washington State Legislature Bill Information

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