The Bellevue Reporter made a sound decision in supporting Proposition 1. This measure was unanimously passed by the King County Council. A total of 60 percent of the money raised by the ballot measure would be used to maintain bus service at current levels, while 40 percent would be used for road maintenance and safety improvements.

If Proposition 1 fails, Metro will need to reduce bus service as much as 17 percent. The proposed cuts will affect all of us including workers who commute by bus, persons too disabled to drive, persons who cannot afford to drive, and students attending such schools as U of W, Bellevue College and Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Moreover, cuts in bus service will cause more persons to drive, therefore further clogging our streets and causing additional pollution of our environment. And, of course, without the money for road upkeep, our roads will unacceptably deteriorate.

Some persons complain about the cost of the levy, composed of a raise in the annual vehicle fee from the current $20 to $60 and an increase of the King County sales tax by 1/10 of one percent, both which would end in 10 years. That’s $5 per month for the vehicle fee and 10 cents on a purchase of $100. What a minimal amount for the services we are protecting.

Whereas, none of us like to pay taxes, revenue is necessary to supply the services that King County residents need and value, such as schools, police protection, parks, and methods of transport. Because the proposed tax may hurt persons of low income, the proposition includes a reduction in bus fare for the low income and a partial low-income vehicle fee rebate.

Diana Thompson, Bellevue