Who voted to pay higher license fees?

I license two trucks, a car and a trailer in Washington. The fees burn me up every time. In '97 the F350 was over $400 to license every year, then us voters approved Initiative-776 to limit tags to $30 and stop adding other taxes and fees. The courts ruled the popular vote of the people to be unconstitutional, but the legislature said they would abide by the democratic vote and keep it at $30. Then a weight fee was added to passenger cars and trucks. Then Filing fees were added.

Now I and all of us pay:
'79 F250 = $75
'95 F350 = $63
'06 Vibe .= $42
Flatbed . = $31

I can understand how a 5600lb F350 (county dump scale says 7200lbs) does more damage to the roads than a small car, but Donna's little 2700lb car is charged over double the voted $30 fee already.

Every year. Why an old F250 is charged more than a heavier F350 I can't figure out.

Oregon had it right - $6 license for two years when I last looked. They pay income tax, we pay sales taxes, for projects including road maintenance. And gas taxes. And license/title fees. Fees ad naseum.

 

Rex, if I recall correctly we were never promised a $30.00 flat registration fee. I think the $30.00 was just the "base" fee.

I just went onto the DOL website and this is the fee structure as it stands now.

$30 PLUS a fee based on weight of vehicle.
0–4,000 lbs: $10
4,001–6,000 lbs: $20
6,001–8,000 lbs: $30

On top of that there is filing fee of $3.00 and a license service fee of .75

Maybe somebody else can remember exactly what the initiative said?

Regardless, it's highway robbery if you ask me!

 

No, I-776 is a $30 license tab and repeal other taxes and fees. Here's what the Secretary of State said then on WA.gov:

Now fee and weight-creep have doubled it on vehicles with an engine. I can see paying more for an extra-heavy vehicle, but more than doubling it for a pickup is abuse. The license fee has been *******ized and inflated with whatever can be tacked on.

 

Sorry, guess I was wrong...

 

No need to be sorry, the intiative was long ago and has been polluted ever since by court rulings and the politicos.

It just torques my rod when renewal time comes every year.

I need more coffee.

 

Oh it gets me goin pretty good too. My renewal is coming up in July and I'm not looking forward to it.

 

Well all I can say is;

Welcome to The Great Take of Washington
You make it, they take it!!!!

Been this way ever since I've live here......Did I tell you we are moving to New Mexico???

 

Lol JR, you always have a good take on a subject.

I ain't even going into how our legislature just created 3,500 government positions that will suck up our "rainy day" gas tax surplus funds, which were going to a viaduct replacement, bridge building, road construction and maintenance. Now all of it will be paid for mostly by future budgets, just like redline programs on the national scene. A state budget article is the one smart editorial that my newpaper's editor wrote this year, he feels burned now by those that he previously supported.

Anyhoo, what's better about New Mexico besides the weather?

 

Well, In some areas down there, you can live real cheap......Tax wise and one would have to be retired, as little to no work. How about 2 1/2 acres with a 40' X 60' hanger home on a dirt strip with a well. Tax on that is unders $500.

 

That's proportional to what my new tax bill is after a 22% increase from last year... $1995.00 on 8.5 acres w/ 1640sf home, 32'x42' shop, a well and power.

You must be paying even more terrible property taxes now than I am. It's a beech they rise 10X faster than inflation.

 

Can anyone give me info on boat licensing and any other fees...I've never owned one until I got up here, and don't even know how well I'll drive the thing.

Will be starting another thread on boats...I will need some help in that one!

 

Want some real tax fun? It cost me $84 to register the Galaxie. That's in a non-emissions county as well.
I'm moving to ID as soon as I can find a job there, but employment isn't that great there.

 

it cost me $55 bucks to register my 79 f150 that the county dump scales says 4200 ish lbs and they say it weighs 6000

 

Boat and trailer isn't too bad compared to motorized vehicles on the road. $33 for a 24 footer + $30 trailer when last licensed.

Brentlee, Ford Six, between licensing, property and other taxes that outpace inflation, we're in a sinking hole. Don't even talk about auto, food, or medical costs, that's scary.

 

I'm glad I live over here where the propety taxes are still reasonable (well too high if you ask me, but not as steep as you guys on the coast). Our sales tax here is 7.6%, even lower across the border in Idaho where it's only 6%. Of course wages are lower and unemployment is higher. Still, I woudn't live west of the mountains!