Pierce County Council members Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom, and Tim Farrell, D-Tacoma, got into a spirited exchange this morning over Pierce Transit’s proposal for a three-tenths of 1 percent increase in the local sales tax rate.

In a move not often seen in local politics, Muri said he’s authoring a resolution that the council oppose the measure on the Feb. 8 ballot. He brought the issue up twice today, first during the County Council’s weekly Rules and Operations Committee and again during a mid-morning study session.

Generally, local government bodies support one another’s tax measures – or stay silent. It’s rare for one to come out in opposition.

Muri plans to put his resolution on the council’s Feb. 1 agenda.

The Tacoma City Council, meanwhile, will consider a resolution in support of the transit tax hike during its meeting at 5 p.m. tonight.  Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland is a member of the Pierce Transit board and co-chair of the Proposition 1 campaign.

Since Muri brought the issue  up only this morning, it was too early to tell which way his colleagues were leaning – except for Farrell – and whether he can gain majority support.

Farrell is the County Council’s delegate to the Pierce Transit board and a man who knows the county’s bus system well; he’s a regular rider.

He made it clear this  morning – as he has in public meetings over the last several months – he believes the increased tax is vital. Without it, he says, bus service will be cut severely – and some people who need it will be cut off completely.

Muri said he’s “never seen so much angst” from constituents as he has regarding the Pierce Transit proposal, which would increase the sales tax it collects by 50 percent – from .06 cents to .09 cents on a dollar. That’s the difference between 6 cents on a $10 purchase and 9 cents on a $10 purchase.

“People have asked me for leadership,” Muri said following the study session. “It’s a permanent tax,” he added, saying voters might be more inclined to vote for a temporary increase that would phase out when the economy imporves.

“A permanent, 50-percent increase for Pierce Transit is way out of line,” Muri said.

The measure would put the area’s sales tax, already over 9 cents, closer to the 10-cents-on-the dollar mark, he pointed out. That’s tough for people to bear in a still rough economy, he added.

Farrell said he’s staunchly opposed to Muri’s resolution. “If people don’t want to pay for it, that’s fine, but they’ve got to understand that the services will be reduced,” Farrell said. “People are still going to be underserved regardless, and in some places they’re going to be stranded.”