At their July 17, 2023 meeting, the Bellevue City Council formed a Transportation Benefit District. The City Council may decide to assume the District at a later date. This is an administrative step. The council may also decide to fund the District — separate discussions and additional public outreach would happen prior to any funding decisions.
Timeline
Initial discussions started during the 2023-24 budget process on forming a Transportation Benefit District to address a budget shortfall for Transportation maintenance that originated during the pandemic with the 2021-22 budget and was carried forward into the 2023-24 budget. Staff evaluated the potential of forming a district for several months, including adding Transportation System Maintenance Program to the City’s 2024-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Information on the timeline for forming the district can be seen below.
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Transportation Benefit District Formation
- June 12, 2023
- Transportation Benefit District process kick-off
- July 10, 2023
- Public hearing for the formation of the benefit district
- July 17, 2023
- Council adopted an ordinance to form a Transportation Benefit District
- July 24, 2023
- Council adopted resolution to set a date and time for a public hearing to consider assumption of the District
- August-September 2023
- Public outreach about the benefit district
- September 11, 2023
- Public hearing for council assumption of the District
Past events
- July 10, 2023 — Public hearing on the formation of the benefit district
- August 8-September 30, 2023 — Survey open
- August 9, 2023 — Tabling at Bridle Trails Night Out
- August 12, 2023 — Tabling at Keep Bellevue Beautiful event in downtown
- August 15, 2023 — Webinar #1
- August 24, 2023 — Webinar #2
- August 29, 2023 — Crossroads Farmers Market
- August 31, 2023 — Stakeholder webinar
- September 11, 2023 — Public hearing on assumption of the benefit district
- September 20, 2023 — Webinar #3 (A pdf version of this presentation is available below under "Background materials)
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is a Transportation Benefit District?
A Transportation Benefit District is an independent taxing district that can be formed by cities and counties in Washington. They can be used for acquiring, constructing, improving, providing, and funding transportation improvements within the area of the district. Projects may also include operations, preservation and maintenance of transportation facilities. Chapter 36.73 RCW contains the rules and regulations for forming and operating the district. Bellevue’s Transportation Benefit District is governed by Bellevue City Council, shares the same boundaries as the city, and any funds raised by the district would be used within the city.
How can Transportation Benefit Districts raise money?
State law allows for Transportation Benefit Districts to raise money in several ways. In general, the funding options are either approved by the district's governing body or voter-approved. The governing body of the Transportation Benefit District is the Bellevue City Council, and they will determine the funding mechanism. Council-approved options include a 0.1% sales tax, a vehicle licensing fee, a building construction or land development fee, or a vehicle toll on city streets.
A 0.1% sales tax increase would cost the average Bellevue household $20-30 annually. This figure was calculated using the 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Surveys for the Seattle metropolitan area. The City’s calculation takes the average household size of 2.4 people and totals all tax-eligible spending before applying the additional 0.1% sales tax onto those expenses, providing an approximate range for the average Bellevue household. A vehicle licensing fee would start at $20 per vehicle per year.
If the district is funded in the future, how would the money be allocated?
Funds collected through a Transportation Benefit District would be allocated through the regular biennial budget process. Every other year, the City Manager presents a preliminary budget to the City Council for feedback, discussion, consideration and eventual action. More information on the budget process can be found on the city’s Budgets webpage.
What is the process for creating a Transportation Benefit District?
There are three main steps to generating new revenue through a Transportation Benefit District. The council must first approve the formation of the district. This is followed by the council assuming responsibility of the district so they can address district business during a regular council meeting. The final step is to authorize the funding of the district. Currently, Bellevue’s Transportation Benefit District has been formed but has not been assumed or had any funding mechanism authorized.
How will the Transportation Benefit District be kept accountable?
If funded, the district must publish an annual report, indicating the status of transportation improvement costs, transportation improvement expenditures, revenues, and construction schedules, to the public and newspapers of record in the district (RCW 36.73.160). More information on this can be found on the Municipal Research and Services Center’s webpage on Transportation Benefit Districts.
Background materials
- August 8-September 30, 2023: Summary of the Transportation Benefit District survey (pdf)
- September 20, 2023 Webinar presentation slides (pdf)
- September 11, 2023 City Council agenda item: Public hearing on the city’s proposed assumption of the benefit district.
- July 24, 2023 City Council agenda item: Resolution for the assumption public hearing.
- July 17, 2023 City Council agenda item: Ordinance establishing the Transportation Benefit District and creating a new chapter in the Bellevue City Code, Chapter 4.22.
- July 10, 2023 City Council agenda item: Public hearing on the proposed formation of a Transportation Benefit District.
- June 12, 2023 City Council agenda item: Kick-off Transportation Benefit District process
- Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC) webpage on Transportation Benefit Districts.
- This webpage includes a downloadable list of transportation benefit districts in Washington.
- Revised Code of Washington chapter on Transportation Benefit Districts (Chapter 36.73 RCW).