In the 1990's, state and local governments could each increase property taxes 6% per year. Regularly, they went for the full 6%. So state government increased property taxes 6% each year, counties 6%, cities 6%, ports 6%, fire/library districts 6%. All those 6%'s compounded exponentially each year and taxpayers faced skyrocketing property tax increases. Then in 2000, we did an initiative to lower each government's increase to 2% per year. Voters approved it. But county governments arrogantly sued the voters and got it overturned.
The following year, we sponsored Initiative 747 which said each government was limited to 1% per year and the only way they could increase it more was with voter approval. That 1% cap initiative in 2001 passed by an even bigger margin than the 2% cap (58% of voters said yes).
In 2007, in a goofy 5-4 ruling, the state supreme court said that voters were "misled" into voting for I-747 and struck it down.
Governor Chris Gregoire called a special session and one month later the Legislature reinstated the 1% limit. The vote was 86-8 in the House (http://app.leg.wa.gov/far/RollCall?rollCallId=29684&bienId=19) and 39-9 in the Senate (http://app.leg.wa.gov/far/RollCall?rollCallId=29689&bienId=19). All Republican legislators voted for it and almost 80% of Democrat legislators voted for it. And Washington's Democrat Governor signed it into law.
We recount this history because county commissioners voted to break the 1% limit. They recently got together for their association meeting (Washington State Association of Counties -- WSAC) and voted on their legislative priorities for the next legislative session. What's their #1 priority? Convincing the Legislature to allow them to increase property taxes more than 1% without a vote of the people.
But the overwhelming consensus of the people and the overwhelming consensus of the Legislature, both Democrats and Republicans, is to limit each government's increase to 1% (with a safety valve allowing bigger increases with voter approval).
We're going to have a knock-down, drag-out fight next year in the Legislature to protect the 1% cap.
A great way to send a message to the Legislature to NOT do that is by getting I-1325 on the ballot and passing it.
The signature drive for I-1325 is off to an explosive start! We're moving full steam ahead on this critical effort.
What do we need RIGHT NOW? Your financial support. We need a big war-chest to print up petitions and mail them to hundreds of thousands of voters throughout the state. We need your help.
Please contribute TODAY so this initiative effort is a success. Send us a donation for $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, $2500, $5000 or more (there are no limits on how much can be given). You can make a secure PayPal / VISA / MC contribution by going to our website -- www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com -- OR, you can print this form, fill it out, and return it with a check or credit card information. Either way, please send in your most generous donation RIGHT NOW. And please consider a monthly contribution. This initiative effort will be hard, but it will be worth it!
Please support our 2/3 Constitutional Amendment to guarantee permanent protection from higher taxes. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, initiative co-sponsors, 2/3 Constitutional Amendment, 425-493-9127, tim_eyman@comcast.net, www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com
P.S. There are thousands of politicians, bureaucrats, lobbyists, and special interest groups working each and every day to raise your taxes. Shouldn't there be at least one person, one team, one organization that fights to lower your taxes? Please help us so we can continue our successful efforts on behalf of taxpayers.
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