Pasco council assumes powers of Transportation Benefit District to shore up street funding

The Pasco City Council on a unanimous voice vote adopted Ordinance 4826 to assume the powers of the Pasco Transportation Benefit District, giving the city authority to collect and administer a dedicated transportation revenue source.

Deputy City Manager Sigell told council the city's street fund is under pressure because motor-fuel and other traditional revenue streams have declined while the city's road miles continue to grow. She said the district provides options including vehicle license fees or a sales-tax increment; an additional 0.1 percent sales tax would require voter approval, while a council-adopted vehicle fee could be enacted administratively.

The ordinance was put before the council after a staff presentation and a public hearing; no members of the public testified during the hearing. Mayor Prom moved for adoption; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Why it matters: City staff said the street fund could go negative by the end of the current biennium without new revenue, and that maintenance and traffic-calming needs have grown faster than the city's maintenance workforce. Council members emphasized the need to be transparent about trade-offs and said the district creates an additional tool to preserve pavement and safety projects.

What's next: With the council now exercising the district's powers, staff will return with specifics on revenue options and project lists tied to any proposed revenue mechanism, including whether a voter measure is warranted.