Washougal mulls $20 car tab fee

The Washougal City Council could once again consider a tab fee of $20 per vehicle to pay for part of the city’s pavement management program.

During a presentation of preliminary 2019 budget information to city councilmembers at their workshop Monday, Aug. 13, Washougal Finance Director Jennifer Forsberg said a $20 annual Transportation Benefit District (TBD) tab fee could generate approximately $171,200 in revenue during a partial year that allows for a six months lag on collection timeframe.

The revenue that could be generated from a TBD tab fee in 2019 would be combined with $217,000 from the general fund and $475,000 in real estate excise taxes (REET) for the pavement management program.

This year, the pavement management program is funded by $275,000 from the general fund and $475,000 in REET.

Washougal Mayor Molly Coston’s proposed service enhancements for 2019 include hiring a second, full-time code enforcement officer for the second half of the year with general fund money.

The other proposed service enhancement would involve increasing funding for the pavement management program from $750,000 this year to $863,000 in 2019.

In June 2015, the city’s Transportation Benefit District Board — consisting of city council members — voted against a license tab fee of $20. During that same meeting three years ago, they also did not pass a motion that would have established a vehicle tab fee of $10.

Additional presentations regarding potential 2019 budget items are scheduled during the next City Council workshop at 5 p.m., Monday, Aug. 27, in Washougal City Hall.

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