Letters 7-23

July 24, 2009

By Administrator

Vote no on

Initiative 1033

On first read, Tim Eyman’s latest initiative — Initiative 1033 to “reduce property taxes” — might sound like a good idea. Who is opposed to reducing property taxes?

Yet a more careful read of the initiative raises questions about what the initiative does and its impacts. I-1033 would transfer all revenue in excess of that above a baseline, adjusted each year for inflation and population growth, to a special fund.

The revenue involved includes sales tax revenue and all other revenue to state, county and city government above the limit. However, no one will receive a property tax refund check. The excess revenue will go into a special fund, which will reduce the overall property tax that can be collected the next year.

I-1033 is actually a reverse Robin Hood scheme. It would transfer wealth from taxpayers who pay sales tax to those that own property. For example, last year 57 percent of state tax revenue came from the sales tax. The reduction in property tax will affect both commercial and residential real estate taxes.

So shopping mall owners and real estate developers and people with second homes and mega mansions will all share in a reduction in property taxes if the economy picks up and more revenue comes in. If you own property, you would benefit. The more you own, the more you benefit.

Everyone pays sales tax, yet the U.S. Census Bureau says that only 65 percent of households in the state are owner occupied. So some 35 percent of the households will still pay sales tax. but they will see no direct benefit like those that own property under I-1033 will see. So, instead of using increased revenues to fund schools or teacher pay or classroom reduction or pay for police and fire protection, Eyman’s I-1033 would transfer tax dollars, the majority of which comes from all taxpayers who pay sales tax, to just those who pay property taxes.

This is absurd. How about reducing sales taxes if you think taxes are too high? Sales taxes are regressive. Or how about proposing a property tax break to help low and middle income people keep their principal residence, like a Homestead Exemption would do? Why should my sales tax dollars go to help reduce property taxes for Boeing or Weyerhaeuser or Kemper Freeman’s

Bellevue Square Mall? Some 40 percent of the property tax break would go to commercial interests.

Vote no on I-1033. Support real tax reform, not another tax break for the wealthy.

Steve Zemke

Class reunion was

memorable experience

Not only was June 27, 2009 a day that celebrated the city of North Bend’s centennial, but a day that hosted the class reunion for Valley students graduating between 1937 and 1946.

These students were products of the consolidated district of North Bend, Snoqualmie, Snoqualmie Falls and Fall City. Sixty-five graduates were in attendance, bringing lots of laughter, wonderful memories of past times, and many pictures of then and now, generating a great deal of fun discussion about changes to us all.

Cecile Richards, who now lives in Vista, Calif., and her family decorated the hall and prepared a delicious gourmet luncheon. Without Cecile, we would not have attempted to have a reunion.

It took a great deal of time to contact all the graduates, since most have moved away from the Valley. Thank yous go to Marian Danforth, Angie Crawford, Doris Reynolds, Maxine Dovenberg and Cecile Richards, as well as a special thank you to Doris Wade, who spent hours locating many of the graduates whose invitations were returned by the post office.

Maisie Davis Treas,

North Bend