Would Tacomans be willing to raise their property taxes by 12 percent to fix a substantial amount of the city’s aging streets and sidewalks? Tacoma City Council is considering sending a levy to voters that, if it passes, would raise $180 million over six years. It would amount to an additional $139 per $100,000 of assessed value, or $350 per year on a home worth $250,000.
This six-year plan is the first of four phases with a total price tag of around $750 million.
“It is the beginning of a massive undertaking,” City Manager Eric Anderson said. “It is a massive undertaking because it is a massive problem. It is the single largest infrastructure problem we are facing.”
The six-year project would replace 19 lane miles of residential streets (a lane is 12 feet wide); 91 lane miles of arterial streets; 46 miles of sidewalks and 49 miles of bicycle lanes.
Streets that would be repaired first scored the lowest in an assessment done in 2006, in which zero was the lowest score. For residential streets, these are oil mat roads rated between zero, or “failed,” and 40, or “fair.” Arterial streets are in the range of zero to 50. It includes the top 10 worst roads, as determined by the city’s Streets and Grounds Division in 2007-08.
The city offered a much smaller street levy in 2006, calling for $48 million over six years, or an additional tax of $48 per $100,0000 of assessed value. It failed by 52 percent.
And the economy was in better shape three years ago. Whether voters would go for a larger tax increase now is debatable.
Mayor Bill Baarsma noted there is precedence of voters turning down one tax increase only to approve a higher one with Metro Parks. After a bond measure it offered in 2004 was defeated, it returned the following year with a larger package that passed.
He said Metro Parks was successful the second time around because the package was crafted to identify funding for specific parks, playgrounds and other facilities around the city, so voters could expect improvements near where they lived if they approved it.
The street levy is similar. For example, South 56th Street between Interstate 5 and the western city limits would get $6.98 million for a grind and overlay, selective concrete panel replacement and landscaping in the first year.
The council has until late July to decide whether to place it on the November ballot.
Anderson said fluctuations in the price of oil and gas could affect the actual amount of work done.
City staff assembled the package at the request of several council members, he noted.
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