Yakima, WASH--This fall, the Yakima City Council decided to hold off on taking any action on a possible car tab fee until the results of their citizen survey came back. The results from that survey are now in, and the council is moving forward.
Council members said many roads are in terrible shape and something needs to be done, but they'll leave it to the public to decide if they want to pay for it.
By the looks of it, the vote could swing either way. The 2012 Citizen Survey included questions about paying a $20 car tab fee for road improvements. The results were split 50-50.
Now, the question of whether you would be willing to pay a $40 car tab fee will appear on a special election ballot in April.
Under state law, the city council could approve the fees themselves with a simple majority, but council members said it's only fair to let the people decide.
"That's why we're looking at taking it to the public and getting their blessing as far as improving those {roads} or we continue to have them deteriorate," said Yakima City Council Member Cathy Coffey.
City council said the fees will generate $2 million a year. This money will either be used for "pay-as-you-go" road improvements or the council will issue a $25 million bond.
Council said this money will go directly toward road construction including big projects on 3rd Street and 48th Avenue.
If passed the car tab fees will last for ten years and then expire.
