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High court upholds $30 license tab measure October 30, 2003
In a ruling Thursday in Olympia, the court overturned a King County court that declared the initiative unconstitutional for having two subjects. The Supreme Court says I-776 had a single subject – reducing the car tab fee. It also ruled the initiative would not impair bonds issued by King County. The case goes back to King County Superior Court for some further proceedings.
The ruling is a victory for the state, which defended the initiative and sponsor Tim Eyman. The initiative eliminates local taxes above the $30-limit, including one that provides about 20 percent of the funding for Sound Transit. A spokesman for the Seattle Monorail Project said the ruling does not affect funding for that project. Eyman said he's "extremely happy" that the state Supreme Court has upheld the measure. He said vehicle owners who paid more in the past year, since the measure passed, should get refunds. In King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, he said, a court is still determining the Sound Transit tax. Eyman says voters have twice approved the measure. The first initiative was overturned in court. He says he had a better lawyer this time. The anti-tax initiative sponsor plans a new measure next year to reduce property taxes. KING |