Tacoma enacts $20 car tab fee and tax cut to hospitals
»Play Video
TACOMA, Wash. -- Car tabs in Tacoma are about to go up $20 after the city council approved the hike, along with getting rid of a tax cut for hospitals.
It's an effort to improve roads and save jobs, but not everyone is happy.
"I don't think that's very good," said Tacoma resident Herman Czarnik. "We're up pretty high from years ago and they're just working on getting it up again."
The car tabs will raise $4 million, but the city of Tacoma had to cut much more than $4 million out of its road repair fund. The increase in the car tab is the best way the city council saw to help fill the budget hole of more $60 million.
The extra fee is already in place in 23 other cities including Seattle, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Bremerton and Olympia.
At the same time, the Tacoma City Council eliminated a tax break to the city's non-profit hospitals. That will bring in a projected $5.5 million for the city's general fund, which they say will go a long way towards saving firefighter and police jobs that were threatened.
"It was necessary to balance the city's budget and avoid even further layoffs of fire fighters and police officers," said Steve Call, Tacoma's finance director.
When Tacoma city council members found themselves in such a big hole, they vowed to come up with ways to keep up the roads, and keep up the jobs. They found it in car tabs and hospitals.
The Tacoma Fire Department says it is still working under the impression that there will still need to be some layoffs.
It's an effort to improve roads and save jobs, but not everyone is happy.
"I don't think that's very good," said Tacoma resident Herman Czarnik. "We're up pretty high from years ago and they're just working on getting it up again."
The car tabs will raise $4 million, but the city of Tacoma had to cut much more than $4 million out of its road repair fund. The increase in the car tab is the best way the city council saw to help fill the budget hole of more $60 million.
The extra fee is already in place in 23 other cities including Seattle, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Bremerton and Olympia.
At the same time, the Tacoma City Council eliminated a tax break to the city's non-profit hospitals. That will bring in a projected $5.5 million for the city's general fund, which they say will go a long way towards saving firefighter and police jobs that were threatened.
"It was necessary to balance the city's budget and avoid even further layoffs of fire fighters and police officers," said Steve Call, Tacoma's finance director.
When Tacoma city council members found themselves in such a big hole, they vowed to come up with ways to keep up the roads, and keep up the jobs. They found it in car tabs and hospitals.
The Tacoma Fire Department says it is still working under the impression that there will still need to be some layoffs.
Tax his land, tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor, tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow, tax his goat,
Tax his pants, tax his coat.
Tax his ties, tax his shirts,
Tax his work, tax his dirt.
Tax his chew, tax his smoke,
Teach him taxes are no joke.
Tax his car, tax his grass,
Tax the roads he must pass.
Tax his food, tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his sodas, tax his beers,
If he cries, tax his tears.
Tax his bills, tax his gas,
Tax his notes, tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.
If he hollers, tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin, tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom!"
And when he's gone, we won't relax,
We'll still be after the inheritance tax.
 @Glassman Love it - so true!
Both St Joe's and TG have record profits and give their CEOs huge bonuses. They hide under the non profit umbrella. It is very righteous of the city to tax these businesses. St Joe's is the worse! I used to be a RN there. It is the Wal Mart of Systems and it is very unchristian for a "Catholic" Hospital. They treat the employees poorly, are deceitful, and is an unsafe place. I left there voluntarily because of the horrible working conditions and lousy equipment. The nurses anr negotiating their contract and the administration there is doing more take aways declaring a poor financial climate despite record earnings.
Don't like the increase refuse to pay it...... Until citizens learn how to stand up for themselves nothing will change in our government. Remember it's always the same year after year.... Hand outstretched for more of your money etc.! Taxes always find their way to your pocket book rather it's car tabs or something else....
Bet they weren't Republicans. Â Liberals never met a tax they didn't like. Â Embrace it folks - it's Washington. Â Group hug, sanctuary citiies, anit-police, welcome out-of-state felons.
Â
Gee, where might this kind of thinking end? Â Not when. Â Where?
We need a group of lawyers.  We need to create bills that  diminish the overall power of government.  We need to reduce the life time benefits of hundreds that require thousands of taxpayers to support.  We need to do this because VOTING is not a system that is working for the taxpayer.  To reform through the VOTING method would take generations.  We need to reduce big government and reduce spending while keeping a sound infrastructure.  We need our own group of lawyers to help change the laws of "government" and make the system work for a majority instead of a minority.   Â
The government has become a colossal fissure that is sucking the life out of the rest of us to cover their own salaries, pensions and benefits. This is what keeps getting voted in, for the life of me I dont get it.
 @kbbcoop Talk to the "State of Seattle" that keeps voting the same people back in office.  Have a "D" after your name?  You're guaranteed to get elected/re-elected.  People keep voting for them, because they give "gifts".  Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for YOU.  Sad but true.
Typical of this state's politicians. Instead of cutting more waste just increase taxes/fees. Replace the word "necessary" with "easy" and that explains why they voted this way.
Tacoma still glad you closed all your casinos to give in to the emerald queen where you get no taxes becouse they are tribal you gave up over 2 million in taxes
Anybody remember when we voted for $30 car tabs?
Â
Garbage like this just reaffirms my position on politicians. I will gladly pay the tax you burden upon me, all I ask in return is the opportunity to punch you as hard as I can in the face just once.Â
Another reason to move out of Tacoma.
 @Tattooed_Angel As if "The Aroma of Tacoma" wasn't enough. Tacoma; the armpit of Puget Sound.
If you voted for them, don't whine. You get what you blindly follow.
 Well, when your choices are dumb and dumber...
It's an effort to improve roads and save jobs......
Â
NO!!!! It is an effort to extract more blood out of the turnip. My tabs in FW are already up to $90 on a '93 Caravan.
What's to stop these money grubbing tax crack addicted City/County/State from jacking it another $100....nothing
They will continue to use us to fill their pipe..
So guess what Washingtonians....you voted these crack-heads into office....so reap it, fools.Â
(....now just-a-waitin' for Inslee to propose a $50 fix our road fee...it's coming...only time awaits)