City of Mercer Island spends over $125,000 on fight against I-90 tolling

The approved budget for I-90 tolling is $275,000 to date. The Mercer Island City Council voted in May to add $100,000 to the original amount of $150,000 set up in March.

By Reporter Staff • June 24, 2013 4:59 pm

The approved budget for I-90 tolling is $275,000 to date. The Mercer Island City Council voted on May 20 to add $100,000 to the original amount of $150,000 set up in March.

According to the city’s finance department, the $250,000 has come from the city’s contingency fund, and $25,000 was allocated from 2012 General Fund savings.

To date, $129,176.67 has been spent on the city’s effort to stop I-90 tolling.

Of that amount, nearly three-quarters or $95,000 has been billed by the K&L Gates law firm.

Mayor Bruce Bassett, along with Councilmember Mike Grady and Deputy City Manager Noel Treat, traveled to Washington, D.C., in May to meet with transportation officials. The trip cost $2,140.