The TransLink Mayors are huddled behind closed doors today, trying to decide which poison chalice to hand taxpayers in the TransLink referendum.

In the Appendices to their $7.5 billion plan, we find the following tax scenarios:

1. 100% from a regional sales tax
2. 50% from a vehicle registration fee, 40% carbon tax, 10% supplementary sources
3. 60% from a regional sales tax, 25% vehicle registration fee, 15% supplementary sources
4. 50% from mobility pricing, 40% carbon tax, 10% supplementary sources
5. 50% mobility pricing, 40% regional sales tax, 10% supplementary sources

Since the carbon tax is out of the picture (thank you, Premier Clark!), this leaves #1, #3 and #5.

We know how the vehicle registration fee played out from a decade ago, so it’s probably safe to eliminate #3. Even these mayors aren’t that tone deaf.

Mobility pricing is a long way off, and a logistical nightmare. Even to implement the “toll every crossing” plan that some have pitched, you would need a $2/crossing charge on every bridge in the region to generate the necessary revenue. And that’s assuming you could get access to the Port Mann toll – not going to happen.

So I’m betting on scenario 1, and TransLink mayors trying to defend a sales tax hike to fund the most unpopular government agency in the region. Good luck with that!