In more fallout from the State Auditor's decision to investigate Sound Transit, Federal Way Mayor Skip Priest issued a press release applauding the audit and asking his own questions.

Voters approved Sound Transit's 2nd phase in 2008, which was supposed to extend light rail from the airport to Federal Way. Recently, Sound Transit officials notified city officials that light rail would only reach Federal Way if voters approve a 3rd phase and another tax increase. Mayor Priest estimates his citizens are already paying about $13 million per year in Sound Transit taxes but they are not receiving what they were promised; a common theme among Sound Transit projections. 

Mayor Priest asked the auditor to consider the following questions in the investigation of Sound Transit's performance:

• Did the agency realize prior to the 2008 Sound Transit 2 vote that the Federal Way light rail link was not feasible?
• Between 2008 and May 2011, as the agency considered how to respond to declining revenue forecasts, did Sound Transit follow a transparent and open process to communicate with the City of Federal Way regarding the alternatives it was considering and to solicit feedback on those alternatives?
• Is the agency’s “sub-area equity” policy used in a transparent, consistent and equitable manner?
• In light of a reported $4 billion decline in forecasted revenues, has the agency made appropriate steps to reduce its administrative and operating costs. As an example, are the employee compensation practices appropriate when more than a quarter of its 450 employees make more than $100,000 a year and annual COLAs are repackaged as performance pay that every employee receives?

Read the full press release here.

Hopefully, the audit will answer some of these questions, but one thing the legislature can do now is make Sound Transit's government board an elected body. Under current law their board is appointed and as such, they are not directly accountable to the public. Sound Transit's leaders should stand for election and answer for their failed promises.