The Valley Transit Board voted Tuesday, Sept. 22 to keep transit services at current levels until the Walla Walla community could vote on a sales tax increase. The meeting was well-attended by a diverse group of community members, many of whom spoke in favor of keeping Valley Transit fully operational.

“We need to maintain what we’ve got,” said Christina Stamper, a small business owner. Stamper was able to gather 50 signatures on a petition to not cut services.

She is a full time student at Walla Walla Community College and says that her family uses Valley Transit to get to school and work.

The board reached its decision after holding two public hearings last week. According to Dick Fondahn, the Valley Transit general manager, public opinion was overwhelmingly in favor of leaving the system unchanged until a public vote on the proposed sales tax increase.

“We feel that there’s evidence of enthusiastic support in the Campaign for Valley Transit,” said Fondahn.

The Board also passed a motion to recommend that the sales tax increase be put on the ballot. If approved by the county auditor, the measure will appear on the ballot on February 9, 2010. The citizens of Walla Walla will be able to vote on a sales tax increase of .03% to fund valley transit.

[polldaddy poll=2032543]In spite of concerns over the viability of a tax increase during a recession, board members remain hopeful.

“Valley Transit takes people to work. It takes customers to businesses. It takes kids to school,” said board member Barbara Clark. “I think the costs of not having Valley Transit operating at the level it’s currently operating at would be so much greater [than the tax].”

The board’s decision is effectively a gamble on that issue. If voters don’t approve the tax increase, Fondahn says services will have to be cut even more deeply in March 2010. The primary impact would be on Route 9, which would be eliminated entirely if the tax increase is rejected by voters.

However, the Campaign for Valley Transit organizers are confident that they can generate enough community support to see the tax raise through.

“We’re happy the board took such a long view of things,” said Norm Osterman, a volunteer for the group. As for next steps, Osterman said the group would work on campaign strategy and generating contributions.

Whether Valley Transit can continue to operate at full service levels is now up to voters. In the meantime, those who depend on Valley Transit will have to work hard to ensure its future.