Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor
What kind of community do we want?
Read More Editorial
Today or tomorrow, we will receive our ballots in the mail for the Nov. 3 election. The first item on the ballot concerns state, county and city revenue.
When you first read it, it sounds like a great idea. I-1033 "would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property taxes."
However, when you dig a little deeper into the full language of Tim Eyman's initiative, you realize the passage of I-1033 will be a disaster for our community and the state as a whole.
Everyone is concerned about taxes, particularly property taxes, but as a share of personal income, state general fund revenue has declined since 1995 by more than 1.5 percent. If I-1033 passes, the Office of Financial Management estimates the state's general fund revenues that support education, social, health and environmental services will be reduced by $5.9 billion dollars by 2015.
Already tied to 1 percent
Clallam County budgets are developed under an annual 1-percent property tax increase, which averaged out to be about $2.50 per family last year, that was enough to keep a deputy on the road and provide for the deputy's family. If I-1033 were to pass, we would not be able to take that increase; in fact, we would have to give money back because there is no inflation and no population growth in 2009.
Don't we want a community that is safe, with deputies on the road and correction officers in our jails? If I-1033 passes, the number of employees in the county's law and justice system, which makes up more than 60 percent of our budget, will have to be cut.
People tell me we are in a recession and government has to cut back the way business is. Over the past 10 years, Clallam County as an organization has reduced the total size of government by 16 full-time equivalents (FTEs), even while adding 21 FTEs to law and justice. The net effect was a decrease in general government capacity of 36 FTEs.
The demand for services has not decreased during the past 10 years; fewer employees are working harder to deliver those services.
Parks, public health on block
If I-1033 passes, county parks will have to be closed. Public health nurses will not be available for clinics and vaccinations. Building permits will take longer to get and there will be fewer people to maintain and plow the roads. Is that the type of community we want? I don't think so.
Vibrant communities with robust economies, which attract new businesses and residents, need well-funded government services that provide for the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens. The Washington Association of Realtors and the Washington chapter of AARP both realize I-1033 would jeopardize the delivery of important services that affect the quality of life in the state of Washington and they are opposed to the initiative.
Education cuts loom, too
During this time of economic readjustment, both locally and nationally, the importance of education is clear. As we all know, we are involved in an evermore highly competitive global economy where education is the key to success. I-1033 will continue the downward spiral of decreased education funding the state has experienced during the recession, at a time when we should be maintaining or increasing the funding for education because of the need. By coming together and pooling our dollars, acting with enlightened self-interest instead of selfishness, we can keep teachers in the classroom and our students on the pathway to success.
No incentive to save
There are many mechanical problems with I-1033 such as county and city governments are not allowed rainy day funds, local governments will be penalized for pursuing grants or other outside revenues because the poorly thought-out initiative goes after general fund revenues not just property taxes. The revenue formula of population growth and inflation does not relate well to government expenditures and would have lead to higher taxes during the last boom than the present system.
The type of communities we want and how we want to fund the needed services to keep them healthy, safe and educated should be left to local voters and the officials they select, not sound-bite bumper sticker logic from an initiative salesman in Mukilteo.
Steve Tharinger is a Clallam County commissioner. A Democrat, he represents the county's First District that includes Sequim and the Dungeness Valley.
When you first read it, it sounds like a great idea. I-1033 "would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property taxes."
However, when you dig a little deeper into the full language of Tim Eyman's initiative, you realize the passage of I-1033 will be a disaster for our community and the state as a whole.
Everyone is concerned about taxes, particularly property taxes, but as a share of personal income, state general fund revenue has declined since 1995 by more than 1.5 percent. If I-1033 passes, the Office of Financial Management estimates the state's general fund revenues that support education, social, health and environmental services will be reduced by $5.9 billion dollars by 2015.
Already tied to 1 percent
Clallam County budgets are developed under an annual 1-percent property tax increase, which averaged out to be about $2.50 per family last year, that was enough to keep a deputy on the road and provide for the deputy's family. If I-1033 were to pass, we would not be able to take that increase; in fact, we would have to give money back because there is no inflation and no population growth in 2009.
Don't we want a community that is safe, with deputies on the road and correction officers in our jails? If I-1033 passes, the number of employees in the county's law and justice system, which makes up more than 60 percent of our budget, will have to be cut.
People tell me we are in a recession and government has to cut back the way business is. Over the past 10 years, Clallam County as an organization has reduced the total size of government by 16 full-time equivalents (FTEs), even while adding 21 FTEs to law and justice. The net effect was a decrease in general government capacity of 36 FTEs.
The demand for services has not decreased during the past 10 years; fewer employees are working harder to deliver those services.
Parks, public health on block
If I-1033 passes, county parks will have to be closed. Public health nurses will not be available for clinics and vaccinations. Building permits will take longer to get and there will be fewer people to maintain and plow the roads. Is that the type of community we want? I don't think so.
Vibrant communities with robust economies, which attract new businesses and residents, need well-funded government services that provide for the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens. The Washington Association of Realtors and the Washington chapter of AARP both realize I-1033 would jeopardize the delivery of important services that affect the quality of life in the state of Washington and they are opposed to the initiative.
Education cuts loom, too
During this time of economic readjustment, both locally and nationally, the importance of education is clear. As we all know, we are involved in an evermore highly competitive global economy where education is the key to success. I-1033 will continue the downward spiral of decreased education funding the state has experienced during the recession, at a time when we should be maintaining or increasing the funding for education because of the need. By coming together and pooling our dollars, acting with enlightened self-interest instead of selfishness, we can keep teachers in the classroom and our students on the pathway to success.
No incentive to save
There are many mechanical problems with I-1033 such as county and city governments are not allowed rainy day funds, local governments will be penalized for pursuing grants or other outside revenues because the poorly thought-out initiative goes after general fund revenues not just property taxes. The revenue formula of population growth and inflation does not relate well to government expenditures and would have lead to higher taxes during the last boom than the present system.
The type of communities we want and how we want to fund the needed services to keep them healthy, safe and educated should be left to local voters and the officials they select, not sound-bite bumper sticker logic from an initiative salesman in Mukilteo.
Steve Tharinger is a Clallam County commissioner. A Democrat, he represents the county's First District that includes Sequim and the Dungeness Valley.
![[Post to Twitter]](/module-resources/article/tt-twitter-big3.png)
© 2009 Sequim Gazette. All rights reserved. 147 West Washington, Sequim, WA 98382 • 360.683.3311 • Email the Webmaster