County opposes road usage charge

POMEROY–Garfield County Engineer and Public Works Director, Grant Morgan, presented a letter to be signed and sent to the Washington State Transportation Commission opposing the proposed Road Usage Charge (RUC) to the Garfield County Commissioners during the regular meeting January 6, 2020. Copies of the letter will also be forwarded to Governor Jay Inslee, State Representatives Jake Fey, 27th–D; Mary Dye, 9th–R; Joe Schmick 9th–R, Senators Steve Hobbs, 44th–D; Mark Schoesler, 9th-R and Secretary of Transportation, Roger Miller. The commissioners also plan to forward the same information to other counties.

The primary concern is “the creation of more government” which will most likely create issues with “enforcement, collections, compliance, dispute resolution, litigation, court services, governmental oversight, unnecessary burden on the public,” and the “potential for additional unfunded mandates on local governments.” To implement the RUC system it will require the involvement of private companies with their own influences over the process, making a profit from it, as well as “data collection and analysis activities.” There is concern that the state won’t be able to guarantee protection of privacy rights. Out-of-state licensed vehicles travelling in Washington will create a complex accounting issue, and there is the risk of “cyber security, fraud, corruption and abuse of an RUC system.”

The letter also states that “the state is so overcommitted to an RUC system working, that any other ideas or alternatives are completely set aside and/or dismissed from consideration.” They go further to predict that the voters will most certainly turn the proposal down. The County Commissioners recommend that the State “continue to aggressively explore and research other ideas to solve our transportation funding crisis before moving forward with the implementation of an RUC system” and propose that they consider a “dedicated sales tax for transportation” that would replace the current fuel tax system. They also believe that voters will support a sales tax when they have confidence that “the funds will be used for the intended purpose and will result in a direct and transparent benefit to the public.”

A sales tax revenue base system is simple and the “mechanisms are currently in place to collect and distribute the revenue,” which does not require the creation of “additional government, create any additional unfunded mandates,” nor infringement “upon the privacy rights of our citizens.” Also, the voters would be satisfied that the “funds collected would go directly to the intended purpose of funding transportation instead of paying for additional government and usng taxpayer money to pay private companies.”

“It is estimated that a 1.2% sales tax would generate approximately two billion dollars annually in transportation funding,” and could “fully replace current state fuel tax revenues.” They further stated that the public should have the opportunity to vote and make a choice. Included with the letter was a summary of what a dedicated sales tax for transportation funding might involve, a request to research other options to the RUC, and to make those options and ideas public knowledge.

In other business, one bid was received for roller road construction from Western States. Their proposed offer for a 2012 Caterpillar rubber tire roller with a cab is for $98,189, including tax. Morgan said they would look at the equipment offered and check the maintenance records, then bring it back to the County Commissioners for approval.

The 2020 Salary and Wage Schedule Resolution for the county was reviewed, approved and signed by the commissioners. The new schedule includes the state-mandated increase in the minimum wage. Commissioner Wynne McCabe pointed out that the unfilled position for Fairgrounds Maintenance was set at minimum wage, but stated that it was his opinion that no one working for the County should be paid less than $15 per hour. Commissioner Justin Dixon reminded him that they have yet to determine a job description for the new position, or decide if it was to be a part-time or full-time position. Once that is set, they can adjust the wage to what they think is appropriate.

Morgan and Dixon plan to attend the Snake River Dams Study Workshop in Clarkston, Tuesday night, January 7, 2020. However, Dixon reported that those in charge of the study only want written comments from the public or those in attendance at the meeting. He believes it is to avoid any confrontations that could occur between opposing parties. He added that $750,000 has been allocated to the study, half of which is to pay for the public input process. There will be an opportunity to comment online.

The next meeting of the Garfield County Commissioners will be Monday, January 13, 2020, at 9 a.m., held at the courthouse.