City forced to cut tax plan

As reported here, the never ending property tax proposal put out by Mayor Greg Nichols has had to be changed, due to the outcry against it by property owners. "Faced with growing opposition, Seattle officials said Tuesday that they're scaling back a transportation property tax proposal to raise just over a third the amount initially proposed -- and to specify a time limit.

"City property owners still will be asked to pay an additional 38 cents per $1,000 of valuation, about $155 for the first year of the tax on a $400,000 home. But the tax will be imposed for just nine years instead of 20 as initially planned. In the ninth year, taxpayers will be asked to vote on extending time limit."

Well, that's only if this passes, which the politicians looking through their fashionable rose colored glasses are optimistic that it will.

"The "Never-ending tax?" story headline "kicked it off," Councilwoman Jan Drago said of the flood of complaints.

""We could not fight a sound bite," Licata said.

"The original plan "was headed for a failed vote," Councilman Peter Steinbrueck said.

"The plan relied on a relatively new state law allowing certain taxes to grow at adjustable rates of inflation, rather than specific dollar amounts. Over five years, the property tax levies could have risen 30 percent under that provision.

"With the proposed change, "we listened to the citizens," Drago said."

As tax activist Tim Eyman stated, ""The never-ending tax is imploding, and now they're scrambling to try to salvage it," said anti-tax activist Tim Eyman, who had vowed to fight the proposal. "But the fundamental problem remains: They're asking the voters to pay twice for an essential, basic service -- road maintenance.""

I have one question for Jan Drago. If the property tax portion of this proposal goes down to defeat come November, will you still listen to the citizens, or will you and the Mayor try to figure out an end run around us to still generate the "lost" revenue?

I think I already know the answer to that. We'll see what happens in November.