Faith Communities for Sustainability is part of an effort to assure the sustainability of the Walla Walla Valley in the face of the significant challenges we face locally and globally.
We understand that because of sales tax revenue shortfalls, the Valley Transit board is reviewing options including fare increases and cuts in local transit service.
Bus and other transit services are critical to personal mobility, economic vitality, and conservation of resources in our community and region. Valley Transit currently provides a basic level of service that should be expanded to meet our community's needs rather than being reduced.
We urge the Valley Transit board to take steps to maintain and expand current bus and transit service in the Walla Walla area, including a reasonable increase in fares and in the sales tax rate.
Most other transit systems in our state collect .006 cents, while Valley Transit has not raised its sales tax rate of .003 since its inception in the 1970s, even after the serious loss of Motor Vehicle Excise Tax funds in 2000. At the very least, no services should be cut for budgetary reasons until voters are given an opportunity to avoid cuts through approval of a rate increase.
(On February 9, 2010, the ballot measure to provide additional funding to Valley Transit passed by a vote of 76.33%-23.67%.)
