A task force convened by Gov. Chris Gregoire has recommended the state raise an additional $21 billion over 10 years to spend on roads, bridges, buses, ferries and other transportation needs.
State voters would likely have the final say on most of the taxes and fees that would pay for the package. A bipartisan cast of lawmakers will start working on the specifics next month with an eye to putting the question to voters on the November ballot.
House Transportation Committee Chairwoman Judy Clibborn and other members of the task force acknowledge the difficulty of persuading the public, especially if lawmakers also ask voters to raise the sales tax in April or May to stave off education, health care and public-safety cuts.
“There’s never an exact right time to do any of this,” said Clibborn, D-Mercer Island.