Page 219 - TransportationPlanUsetsGuide

Table 4�1: Countywide Transportation Funding Programs
Source Use 2013 Estimated Amount
For maintenance and operation of Arteri-
State and County Gas Tax $23 million annual
als and Collectors
For maintenance and operation of
Urban Road Maintenance District (URMD) unincorporated neighborhood and local $3.7 million annual property tax
streets, plus minor safety improvements
To meet existing deficiencies on Arteri-
Major Streets Transportation Improvement als, Collectors and other major system $35 million annual property tax (enact-
ed 3 times, due to state law changes is
Program (MSTIP) improvements as determined by the now part of the general fund)
Board of Commissioners
For future capacity primarily on Arteri- Tax on new development, used for
Transportation Development Tax (TDT) als, Collectors and other major system future needs. Varies based on amount
improvements of development
Dedicated funding for specific improve-
Special District Funding Sources ments within, or that directly benefit, the Varies
special district.

Capital Funding Programs
Capital projects include improvements that expand, enhance, or extend the current transportation system. The TSP
identifies projects consistent with the financially constrained list of projects included in Metro’s 2014 Regional Trans-
portation Plan. The TSP projected financial resources that will be available over the planning horizon are consistent
with Metro requirements. The resulting revenue projections were compared to the identified project list to identify the
gap between transportation system needs and the funding projected to be available for transportation system improve-
ments to address these needs.

Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP)
MSTIP is an innovative pay-as-you-go program that is a key piece of Washington County’s transportation funding strat-
egy. MSTIP has been praised across the state as a smart and balanced response to transportation needs. Between
1986 and 2013, MSTIP built 111 multimodal projects (totaling $555 million) that County residents and businesses rely
upon every day. MSTIP is a property tax measure that was passed by Washington County voters three different times
during the 1980s and 1990s. Each of the three ballot measures identified a specific list of improvements that would be
completed if the measure passed. In the late 1990s two statewide tax reform measures led to MSTIP being rolled into
the County’s general property tax rate. Those property tax revenues support the County’s General Fund, which is used
at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners. Thus far, the Board has invested the revenue generated by MSTIP in
transportation improvements. The TSP funding structure assumes that MSTIP will continue to fund transportation im-
provements at the same rate. Periodically there have been discussions of a new MSTIP ballot measure. A new measure
could ask voters to increase the Countywide property tax to pay for additional transportation investments. A new MSTIP
ballot measure or other MSTIP increase is not included in the revenue assumptions for the TSP financial analysis (con-
sistent with the requirements for a financially constrained regional transportation plan.)

Transportation Development Tax (TDT)
The TDT replaced the previous charge known as the Traffic Impact Fee (TIF), which was enacted in 1986. The TIF imposed
fees on new development in unincorporated Washington County. In 1990, the TIF was enacted Countywide, including within
the cities in the County. This was one of the first transportation-related development impact fees in the nation. The TDT is
imposed on all new development in Washington County and is collected prior to the issuance of a building permit. In cases
where no building permit is required (such as for golf courses or parks), the TDT is imposed prior to final approval of a develop-
ment application. The TDT is based on the estimated traffic that will be generated by each type of development. The amount
of TDT revenue generated varies by the amount and type of development that occurs during any given time frame. Revenue is
held in a dedicated account and allocated toward transportation capital improvements as revenue becomes available.

PART 4: IMPLEMENTATION AND FUNDING 199
Effective November 27, 2015 • Updated December, 15 2016