News
Eyman initiative is opposed by SeaTac lawmakers
SeaTac lawmakers expressed opposition on Aug. 11 to Initiative 1033 that will be on the November general election ballot.
The Tim Eyman-backed measure would limit the growth of state, city and county general fund revenue to the rate of inflation and population growth.
Any additional revenue collected would be used to reduce the next year's property tax levy.
City Manager Craig Ward said the initiative would have a "pernicious impact."
"Economic development would not be useful," Ward declared. "We would receive more jobs but any windfall from economic development would count against us."
Senior Assistant City Attorney Mark Johnsen noted that if the economy improves, the city would not be able to keep the extra revenues generated if voters approve the measure in November.
"It is unfortunate that we have had a bad year because this year is the base year," Mayor Ralph Shape commented.
In other business, council members approved an agreement with the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) to pay the city $84,660 to mitigate traffic impact from the new Des Moines regional jail.
The misdemeanor jail will be located on a 14-acre lot at South 208th Street and 18th Avenue South in Des Moines. But the access road to the jail is off of South 200th Street on 18th Avenue South in SeaTac.
The compensation fee is equal to the city's traffic mitigation fee for developers, according to Johnsen.
Officials from SeaTac, Des Moines, Burien, Tukwila and three other partner cities participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the new jail on Aug. 10.
The 668-bed facility is expected to open in mid-2011.
Initiative 1033 will freeze public services.
Cities have a legitimate reason to be concerned about the impact of Eyman's Initiative 1033 if passed. The measure uses the word growth but a permanent freeze on services is the correct term.
Any adjustment for inflation only allows you to purchase this years services next year at their increased cost due to inflation. Adjusting for new residents doesn't allow services to increase for existing customers, you just have more residents needing services.
Cities, counties and the state have significantly reduced services this year due to the recession. Unfortunately I-1033 doesn't allow any new revenue next year if the economy improves to be used to refund these lost services.
Instead it must be used to provide a speail tax beak to those that own property. It is a complex wealth transfer scheme. Everyone pays sales taxes which last year were 57% of state revenue. But I -1033 doesn't refund money to everyone or even in any proportion to what they paid in taxes. The tax break however iss proportional to the property you own. Too bad if you don't own any property.
What Eyman doesn't tell you is that some 40% of the property tax beak will go to businesses and corporations that own property. And according to the US Census Bureau, only 65% of households in Washington State are owner occupied.
The other 35% of households will still pay sales taxes and other taxes but they both won't get a property tax break or see any increased public services. What kind of fairness is this? Again it's another Eyman anti-governemnt scheme that unfortunately is only intended to benefit property owners.
Read the initiative before you vote because it will have a huge negative impact on public services we all depend on like roads and schools and libraries and police and fire proection and much more. There is no free lunch as Eyman wants you to believe.
Post new comment