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TACOMA – A Pierce County judge on Friday dismissed a class action contesting Sound Transit's ability to collect millions of tax dollars on cars that voters approved in 2016 for transit.
Kathryn Nelson, a Superior Court Judge, sits on the side of the transportation agency, ruling that the 2015 Transportation Financing Act known as Sound Transit 3 was constitutional.
"The quick referral of this trial by the judge is good news for commuters in our area," said Geoff Patrick, spokesman for Sound Transit.
"The elimination of revenues (from the excise tax on motor vehicles) would eliminate and delay the fast train, commuter train and bus projects that are essential to increase the capacity of our transportation system.
Rail car taxes are the second most important source of money for the transportation organization to expand the expansion of bus and light rail services in central Puget Sound.
Seven residents of Puget Sound – including three from Snohomish County – filed a class action lawsuit in June, arguing in part that the 2015 law violated the Constitution as it did not include the full text of the laws that were passed. she changed. The lawsuit stated that the 2015 law refers to an outdated formula for calculating cabotage fees that have resulted in higher taxes.
Joel Ard, plaintiffs' counsel, submitted that Sound Transit does not have the authority to charge taxes on tablets at inflated rates.
The prosecution has asked Sound Transit to repay $ 400 million, which it says has been improperly collected.
"It was a big punch. It was so clear, "said promoter of the initiative, Tim Eyman, of Mukilteo, who campaigned against the 2016 poll." What I think has happened, is that the judge is deflated. "
Eyman did not attend the hearing because he was at the Puyallup Fairground collecting signatures on his latest initiative in the Legislature to bring all car labels back to $ 30.
Citing Friday's ruling, he said, "That's why we have to present our case to voters with our initiative."
Herald reporter Jerry Cornfield contributed to this story.
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