New district for street repair still considered

The idea of creating a “Transportation Benefit District” in Grand Coulee is still alive, but not certain.

Cities form TBDs usually add a license plate tab charge to those within their jurisdiction to develop special monies for roads.

Electric City and Elmer City both have TBDs, and Coulee Dam’s council has discussed it but has not moved forward with the formation.

Grand Coulee’s council is discussing forming such a district, but is lukewarm on the license tab fee.

If previous discussions are a clue, Grand Coulee is more interested in the sales tax side of a TBD.

The members of the city council don’t seem to be interested in the assessment of the license fee, but more interested in a possible sales tax increase of up to one tenth of one percent. The discussions have centered on taxing those who come into the city and travel on its streets and roads, but don’t pay toward repairs.

Using the sales tax provision to fund a TBD, visitors and local people alike would pay the fee, which would be used to keep local streets in repair.

Electric City, using the license tab fee in its TBD, takes in about $10,000 a year, and the city has about $25,000 in this fund.

Elmer City’s TBD, not yet a year old, has returned about $2,500 in license fees to the town.