Eyman's latest is his biggest [king of WA initiatives to file another]

The King COunty Journal ^ | 2003-12-30 2003-12-30 by Jeff Switzer Journal Reporter Tim Eyman wants voters to | Jeff Switzer

[Eala]

Tim Eyman wants voters to take back one of every four property tax dollars they pay to local governments -- for a total cut of $550 million statewide.

Eyman today is announcing his most far-reaching initiative yet, ``25% Property Tax Initiative.'' It proposes to cut 25 percent from all local governments including cities, counties, sewer, water, fire and cemetery districts.

The reaction from opponents, who called the proposal dramatic and unprecedented, was swift.

``I don't think in our history we've seen a proposal with such magnitude,'' said Scott Noble, King County assessor. ``This is a weapon of mass destruction on local government and local control. Voters consider local control sacred, and I don't know if they're going to appreciate this.''

Eyman said the only government agencies exempt from the proposal are local school districts and the state share of property taxes, which is earmarked for schools. Voter-approved levies would also be exempt.

The owner of a house worth $162,000 -- the state median home value -- would save an estimated $177 a year under the proposal.

``People are drowning under property tax bills and see no relief in sight,'' Eyman said Monday. ``The initiative provides tax relief, it will boost the economy and concentrates on the biggest culprit. It is meaningful, long overdue and people will see it as a step in the right direction.''

Eyman hopes voters find the initiative as popular as his proposals to slash car tab fees and limit property taxes increases. He plans to file the initiative next month and wants the debate to be front and center during the gubernatorial and legislative elections.

Eyman said he has until July to raise money to gather 200,000 signatures for his initiative. The announcement and media coverage will propel the effort and show whether the initiative resonates with voters, Eyman said.

In drafting his initiative, Eyman drew on state revenue information and analysis by the Washington Policy Center, a free-market policy group with board members such as Bellevue Square Mall owner Kemper Freeman and King County Republican chairwoman Pat Herbold.

While Washington voters have a history of approving limits on property tax increases, this might be the first time they've had the chance to make cuts, said Paul Guppy, Washington Policy Center research director.

Guppy said his analysis shows property taxes might not be the burden Eyman is making them out to be, in part because of Eyman's own initiatives.

``Our research shows it's leveling off,'' Guppy said. ``The property tax burden is not increasing at as steep a rate as it was in the late 90s.''

Guppy said elected officials often avoid unpopular tax increases and Eyman's I-747 already limits property tax increases to 1 percent.

The state has 1,742 individual taxing districts, including the state as a whole, and a single home can pay taxes to 10 different districts, including schools, cities, water and sewer districts and port authorities.

Statewide, property owners pay $6.3 billion in property taxes, according to the Department of Revenue. Eyman criticized the state for giving Boeing huge tax breaks, while leaving the rest of the state economy to languish.

Originally, he proposed whacking $350 million from the state share of property taxes, which fund schools.

He said shifting his sights to local bureaucracies caused the figure to jump by $200 million.

He blames the property tax problem on the 1,742 individual taxing districts that each have the power to increase taxes.

Property taxes raised $1 billion in 1980 and have collected to $6.3 billion this year.

Eyman said last summer's Initiative 807, a proposal to renew state spending limits, didn't resonate with voters or gain any traction.

``Each proposal has its own personality,'' Eyman said. ``I-807 was clearly the water boy. The 25 Percent Property Tax Initiative has the potential to be captain of the football team.''

Eyman said he drafted a dozen versions before settling on this proposal, which now goes out to people on his 4,000-plus e-mail list and 25,000-person mailing list.

Eyman has faced court challenges on all but one of his initiatives and said he this initiative is sufficiently focused to withstand a court challenge.

Guppy said the proposal appears to be constitutional.

``But you never know until the courts look at it,'' Guppy said.

Jeff Switzer can be reached at jeff.switzer@kingcountyjournal.com or 425-453-4234.

EYMAN'S LATEST

Tim Eyman's ``23 percent Property Tax Initiative'' is short, just 100 words that would drop a bomb on local governments.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON: NEW SECTION. A new section is added to chapter 84.55 RCW to read as follows: (1) The regular property tax levy for each local taxing district shall be reduced by 25.0 percent of the levy amount that would otherwise be allowed under this chapter without regard to this section beginning with taxes levied for collection in 2005 and every year thereafter. (2) For purposes of this section, "local taxing district" means any taxing district other than the state and subject to RCW 84.55.050 which does not include any voter-approved special levies, such as local school levies.

[Eala]

Guppy said the proposal appears to be constitutional.
``But you never know until the courts look at it,'' Guppy said.

Sometimes I still can't figure it out even after the courts have looked at it...

[djwright]

We love Tim Eyman!! He has saved me thousands of dollars over the last several years on Washington's outrageous car tax. Every couple of years he come around with an anti-tax initiative. He makes the Dems hopping mad and Pubs look like scared little children.

Way to go.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[CyberCowboy777]

Washington State Ping List

This is all known Washington State Freepers and interested parties as of 12/23/03 - 360 FReepers
Less those who opted out
If you want on or off this ping list Freepmail me.

[Phaedrus]

The King County Assessor's Office has pushed hard over the past couple of years to raise assessed values thus increasing the tax take. Eyeman's new initiative is timely.

[Phaedrus]

Sorry, "Eyman".

[Phaedrus]

Property taxes raised $1 billion in 1980 and have collected to $6.3 billion this year.

This is unconscionable.

[CyberCowboy777]

Even a fairly conservative county like mine has slowly raised assessed values thus increasing the tax take.

This is a loophole that must be closed, the value of my property to the state should match or be less than its real market value.

[ezo4]

great news for my place over in king county. Nice... About time I here something smart come out of those people over there

[Elliott Jackalope]

I jut got my property taxes hiked about %20. I fully support this measure. Way to go Tim!

[TheConservator]

Don't property tax values have nothing to do with the total tax collected? I.e., isn't a total revenue figure is set (this is what is now subject to the 1% annual increase), and then divided out amongst the total value of property in the relevant taxing district?

I believe that is how they do it. And if so, the government could care less how the taxes are distributed (what the assessed value is), as long as the total take is where they want it?

[Eala]

This would be good news for us as well (also in King County).

[Elliott Jackalope]

Jut s/b just. D'oh!

[CyberCowboy777]

2003 Tax Value 99,900.00

2004 Tax Value 111,100.00

$11,200.00 increase over one year.

Now I am sitting on 5 very rural acres with a 1978 mobile home on it. We have not even started construction on our home yet.

To increase our assessed value they actually increased the value of the mobile home and decreased the value of the property a little.

Anyone who knows mobile homes and property knows that mobile homes decrease in value (we paid about $15,000 for the value of the mobile home and site development) and property increases (especially in this market). They now value my mobile home and site development at $26,600!.

[CyberCowboy777]

My property taxes are adjusted according to what the Assessor's office calls "True Market Value".

[calawah98]

We need him to draw up several initiatives, to do away with drivers licesnse for illegals, outsourcing State Government jobs, an do away with all welfare to illegals.

If California passes the Save California proposition, elimating wefare etc, we can look for all of the illegals to start looking for another state where they can obtain these benefits.

[Elliott Jackalope]

Agreed. While he's at it, why not draw up something like California's "Prop. 13" to freeze the property taxes once they're rolled back. Otherwise, they'll just re-assess and re-assess until they get what they want.

[Just Lori]

I must admit, I'm tired to death of taxes, AND.... when it's time to vote, we are told increases are necessary for fire fighters and police. I admit this sucks totally! Safety and protection (I thought) are supposed to be the first things our taxes are spent on. I'm tired of the scare tactics. We need to remind Olympia what priorities are, but there always seems to be some pet project that most of us don't want to fund, however that doesn't stop our trusted public servants from dipping into the piggy bank. I don't mind paying my fair share. What needs to happen is bureaucracy cuts! Only then will our tax dollars (which we work hard to earn)actually find their way to necessary priorities.

[Just Lori]

I got an initiative for Tim! How about letting people who PURCHASE and then OWN property (like.. to build a house on)do what they want with THEIR OWN LAND????? A friend of ours just bought 10 acres, and has been told (by some environmentalist whack job - (who is also being paid with our tax dollars) that he can only touch 3 acres of it. HE BOUGHT TEN ACRES. HE PAID FOR TEN ACRES. It's not like this guy wants to set up a toxic waste dump on his own land! It's infuriating!
Sorry about all the yelling, but I get ticked off!

[calawah98]

I know the feeling. In the 1980s, the loggers of the Olympic Peninsula, fought the envrios, and now logging on the peninsula is a just about to a standstill.
Have him take it up with the county commisoners. My commisoner is fighting the enviros all the time. Skagit county.
I remember in the 70s, The Readers Digest, had a long story on the establisment of the enviromental agency, an how dangerous it would become if not stopped, before they got to powerful. In those days, all we could say, what in the heck is an enviromental agency? In a few years we found out. It is a UN, Agenda 21, creation. They have accomplished alot, all to the benefit of the UN, and the more restrictions they can apply on property rights, the better they like it.

We need to make a list of all the things, people would like changed, and give them to
Tim. He would drive the politicans crazy. lol

Some one like Tim, is the only one politicans listen to, it hits them in the pocket, where they do not have the money for all their favorite pork projects.

I bought 5 acres on the river, and built a house on the bank over looking the river. After the enviros gained the power, I was told by the county, I would never have been able to build there now.
I guess if a person is going to buy land, the best thing would be to go to the court house, and check on the restrictions first. Was he told the restrictions before he bought, if not maybe he can do something about
it. He will have to pay taxes on the 10 acres, I bet, even tho he can't use all of the land.