Read more stories about 2008 ballot questions

RTC #2
Shall the Washoe County Board of commissioners impose an additional 1/8 of one percent of general sales and use tax collected in the County as authorized under NRS377A to be used for public transit?

RENO - You may ride on them or behind them. Public transit helps local residents get to and from work, home, and even the grocery store. And with high gas prices, more and more of us may be taking the bus.

From an air quality and congested road prospective, that's good. But the people who run the busses say trying to meet the demand is tough, and will be tougher if RTC #2 does not pass on the November Ballot.

Gregory Krause the RTC Executive Director says they have already cut services in places like Sun Valley.

"What we think is most concerning is the majority of travel on RTC Ride is for people getting to and from work and we think we will lose about 700,000 work trips per year with the service cuts we are projecting if additional funding is not found."

RTC #2 authorizes the Washoe County Commissioners to impose an additional one-eighth of one percent increase of general sales and use tax. That money will be used for public transit.

The RTC estimates the costs for an average family would be about 16 cents a day.

But those opposed to the measure say the riders, not the taxpayers, should foot more of the bill. They contend the RTC should make an effort to attract more paying riders. They also worry, that this is not a sunset tax--which means there is no expiration date to inactivate the tax.

If RTC #2 passes, the RTC may sell bonds payable from the tax which would be backed by Washoe County Commissioners. The tax would also be used to pay part of the operating and maintenance costs of new buses.