Seattle City Council Proposes Increasing Vehicle License Fee by $10

Drivers in Seattle might see an increase in fees if the city council approves a new proposal. The bill, which would add an additional $10 to the city's Vehicle License Fee, or VLF, would raise the total fee for drivers to $50. If the council approves the measure, it will take effect on July 1 of next year and provide an additional $2 million in funds for 2023. The council estimates that the measure would generate about $4 million in revenue each year beginning in 2024. Known as CB 120459, revenue from the new fee would be earmarked for road improvements and other transportation projects.

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, the primary sponsor for the bill, says that CB 120459 will enable the city to improve the lives of Seattleites significantly. Looking at all the positive effects the bill will have on the city, Mosqueda says that the proposal will make it safer for school buses to travel the city's roads and ensure a better experience for pedestrians in their day-to-day lives. Mosqueda adds that the new fee proposed in CB 120459 will probably only be a temporary increase and that the city is already searching for new forms of revenue to improve roadways.

While Mosqueda is adamant that the new bill will improve life in Seattle, many drivers are not happy that they might have to pay more next year for their car fees. Lance Litzenberger, a city resident, pointed out that gas is already pricey, and another fee means a bigger hit to bank accounts.

If CB 120459 is approved, it will be the second VLF hike in two years. According to the city's Department of Transportation, VLF currently generates about $15.5 million for improvements that cover everything from bridges to roads to sidewalks. The council will vote on the measure early this week.