KENNEWICK, Wash .– During their August meeting, the Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) Board members voted unanimously against a proposal to reduce the agency’s tax revenues by one-tenth of a percent. If approved, this measure would have been put on a ballot for community members to vote.

According to a press release issued by BFT, voters in both counties approved two voting measures relating to sales tax changes supporting the organization in the past. Ben Franklin Transit CEO Gloria Boyce supports the board’s verdict.

“We are confident that the Commission carefully considered the possible impacts on the transit agency and the public we serve, and made the best possible decision for our community,” Boyce said. “Our board of directors is made up of elected officials from every city and county we serve and they are committed to defending the best interests of the community they represent.”

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Ben-Franklin Transit devoted significant time, energy and resources to gathering the information leading to this decision. Other public bodies such as schools and cities use debt and bonds to pay for projects such as construction, the purchase of new buses / vans and other expensive projects.

BFT does not use debt financing, so it relies on budgeting to pay for projects over multiple years.

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