Covington’s streets are used by visitors from all around our city, and even travelers who come into our city from SR-18.  Our visitors spend money on goods and services within our city (dining, shopping, etc…), yet only Covington city residents pay for the much-needed maintenance and upkeep of our city streets, through a $20/year per car tab tax.  How is this fair?

Maintaining our city streets benefits everyone in Covington.  It reduces wear and tear on your vehicle(s), it reduces the risk of accidents, and it maintains our home property values.

Voting in favor of this proposal will force the city repeal the $20/year car tab tax. For nearly all Covington residents, the amount of sales taxes paid annually, at $.20 per $100, will be Less than the current car tab tax. $5000 spent in 1 year on dining, non-grocery purchases, and services within Covington is equal to $10 in sales taxes.  This is a Tax Decrease for Covington residents!  More importantly, residents from surrounding cities who visit Covington for dining, non-grocery goods, and services, will be rightfully contributing to pay for the continued wear and tear on our streets!

Vote yes for improved city streets, and reduced taxes!

Submitted by: Matthew Parish, Scott Hanis

Covington is growing toward a greater tax burden.  While many Americans are struggling with inflation and high food costs Covington imposed two new taxes.They added 8% tax on your water bill.  Also a new B&O tax which is a gross income tax on business which will be passed on to you the customer on all purchases including food..  Asking for this increase shows Covington is not concerned with your financial challenges.  Covington has continuing plans to add more taxes.  Also the number of city employees has doubled in the last decade.

The essential services are public safety and safe roads. Everything else is discretionary spending.  In  the budget there is sufficient revenue to fund these priorities first without continuing to raise taxes.  Tax dollars have been wasted on unnecessary plants and trees which have created unsafe intersections and require expensive maintenance.   

If passed there is nothing to prevent Covington from reinstating the car tab fee or even increasing the amount.  Also we should be thankful for the nonresidents that shop in Covington.  They already pay a large part of the sales tax revenue for the city.

This has previously been voted down three times by the citizens!

Submitted by: Leroy Stevenson, Philip Jones, pmjones4080@hotmail.com

The new B&O and utility taxes are frustrating but will help maintain service levels for the public. The Council has already committed to replace the car tab fee upon voter approval of Prop 1. Prop 1 will decrease taxes and fees for most Covington residents.

Voting yes will allow the city to do more for our roads every year, increasing safety and road conditions. Vote yes for improved city streets, and reduced taxes!

Submitted by: Matthew Parish, Scott Hanis

If passed this will not improve traffic congestion or safety.  Any improvements have been paid for by federal, state and county grants (which are also tax dollars from residents and non-residents).

Don’t think that repealing the car tab fee is permanent.  When the city decides it needs more money it can reinstate it. Being long term Covington residents we have witnessed waste of tax dollars that brought us to this flurry of tax increases.
 

Submitted by: Leroy Stevenson, Philip Jones, pmjones4080@hotmail.com

Download the full text of the resolution

Simple majority (RCW 82.14.0455)

For questions about this measure: contact: Regan Bolli, City Manager, 253-480-2405, rbolli@covingtonwa.gov