﻿1
00:00:01,209 --> 00:00:04,212
-Seattle politicians say they
care about affordability,

2
00:00:04,212 --> 00:00:07,048
then turn around and ask
residents to approve another

3
00:00:07,048 --> 00:00:08,717
regressive sales tax increase.

4
00:00:08,717 --> 00:00:13,888
Proposition 1 would double
the Seattle Transit Measure

5
00:00:13,888 --> 00:00:16,641
sales tax from 0.15% to 0.30%.

6
00:00:16,641 --> 00:00:20,854
That would push Seattle's
combined sales tax rate to

7
00:00:20,854 --> 00:00:25,150
10.7%, among the highest in
any major city in America.

8
00:00:25,150 --> 00:00:28,403
Before the government demands
more from taxpayers, it should

9
00:00:28,403 --> 00:00:31,823
demonstrate accountability for
the money it already receives.

10
00:00:31,823 --> 00:00:35,827
Proposition 1 includes funding
connected to Sound Transit, an

11
00:00:35,827 --> 00:00:39,748
agency struggling to deliver
projects voters were promised.

12
00:00:39,748 --> 00:00:42,625
Ballard and West Seattle
residents have paid Sound

13
00:00:42,625 --> 00:00:45,628
Transit taxes for years, yet
their planned light rail

14
00:00:45,628 --> 00:00:49,049
expansions continue to face
massive financial challenges,

15
00:00:49,049 --> 00:00:50,550
delays, and uncertainty.

16
00:00:51,551 --> 00:00:54,429
At the same time, transit
agencies are leaving

17
00:00:54,429 --> 00:00:56,139
fair revenue uncollected.

18
00:00:56,139 --> 00:00:59,684
During the World Cup, at least
one-third of Sound Transit

19
00:00:59,684 --> 00:01:01,644
riders boarded without paying.

20
00:01:01,644 --> 00:01:04,898
Why should taxpayers continually
be asked to pay more when

21
00:01:04,898 --> 00:01:08,193
transit agencies will not
consistently collect fares from

22
00:01:08,193 --> 00:01:09,778
the people using the system?

23
00:01:09,778 --> 00:01:13,114
Seattle families are already
being squeezed by the rising

24
00:01:13,114 --> 00:01:16,326
cost of housing, food,
utilities, and transportation.

25
00:01:16,326 --> 00:01:20,038
Sales taxes hit working families
and lower-income residents

26
00:01:20,038 --> 00:01:23,792
hardest because they consume a
larger share of their earnings.

27
00:01:23,792 --> 00:01:28,671
Proponents dismiss Proposition
1 as just $29 more, but that

28
00:01:28,671 --> 00:01:30,799
minimizes the real issue.

29
00:01:30,799 --> 00:01:34,260
Seattle's sales tax rate would
rise 10.7%, and taxpayers

30
00:01:34,260 --> 00:01:37,472
would again be asked to
subsidize a system that has not

31
00:01:37,472 --> 00:01:39,474
delivered the promised results.

32
00:01:39,474 --> 00:01:43,144
Reliable transit matters,
but so does accountability.

33
00:01:43,144 --> 00:01:46,439
City Hall and transit agencies
should prioritize existing

34
00:01:46,439 --> 00:01:49,901
revenue, collect unpaid fares,
manage projects responsibly,

35
00:01:49,901 --> 00:01:52,570
and prove taxpayers are
getting results before

36
00:01:52,570 --> 00:01:54,405
demanding another tax increase.

37
00:01:54,405 --> 00:01:57,450
Doubling a regressive tax
is not affordability.

38
00:01:57,450 --> 00:02:01,955
Vote no on Proposition 1 until
accountability comes first.
