Since 1996, the Washington Policy Center (the leading economic think tank in our state and region) have done two cost-profit-performance analysis of Ben Franklin Transit, largely because they're funded with a local sales tax...public funding...
The Washington Policy Center is the leading public policy 'think tank' group in Washington state, and likely the entire Pacific Northwest. The group's mission statement is to "promote sound public policy based upon free market solutions...
When the Washington State minimum wage went up $1.45 on January 1st, it was the first in a series of hikes that will eventually get the state wage to $13.50, from $9.55, many predicted the effects would start to show.
The plan is supported by labor unions, and Thursday Oregon's controversial Governor, Kate Brown, signed off on the idea. Measure 97, as it's called, would levy the largest corporate tax increase in state history, on the state's biggest 1,000 companies.
The Washington State Senate Monday will hear testimony on a bill that would raise the state's minimum wage (already the highest in the nation) to $12-per-hour, in $.50 increments over the next five years.