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Bailey: 'We are re-enacting the will of the
people'
Legislature approves reinstatement of I-747 limit
"I am very excited that we
are re-enacting the will of the people with a 1 percent tax levy limit,"
Rep.
Barbara Bailey said today, just before voting to approve
legislation to reinstate provisions of Initiative 747.
The Washington Supreme
Court ruled against the initiative Nov. 8. Lawmakers gathered today in
Olympia during a one-day special session to restore the 1 percent levy
limit.
"When you live in a rural
district that has a fair number of people who are on fixed incomes or
living paycheck-to-paycheck, the last thing in the world you'd want to
do is make it extremely easy for property taxes to be raised beyond the
citizens' wishes," said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. "If you really want to get
people stirred up, start talking about their property taxes. When this
ruling came down from the Supreme Court, I had a flood of people calling
and contacting my office. If there was one thing that was very evident,
the people knew exactly what they were voting for, and they want 1
percent."
The House of
Representatives voted today, 86-8, to reinstate the limit. The Senate
soon followed in passing the measure,
House Bill 2416, and sent it to the governor.
Under the provisions,
Bailey said if taxing districts need more money for local services, they
can make their case with voters who can choose whether or not to
increase the 1 percent limit.
"There's nothing in this
bill that will limit local governments and taxing districts from meeting
their needs. All they would have to do is make their case to the voters
if they need more," Bailey added.
The 10th District lawmaker
said she was disappointed that a Republican proposal to provide a $400
rebate to property owners who paid taxes on their primary residence in
2007 was not allowed to advance. Instead, majority party lawmakers
approved a bill that would allow families with incomes under $57,000 to
defer paying 50 percent of their property taxes. The unpaid portion
would not have to be paid off until the house is sold, but interest
would be accrued each year at 7 percent or higher. Bailey, who voted
against the measure, said that could cost homeowners thousands of
dollars, and put their homes in jeopardy.
"It's a very deceptive
bill. Homeowners would have been better off if the Legislature adopted
the 1 percent limit and adjourned the special session. Instead, we have
a bill that has the potential of getting a lot of people in long-term
financial trouble," noted Bailey. "In the old line, 'the government is
here to help you,' people should be very leery of this program. A
deferral would have the state place a lien on your home, which could be
very hazardous to your mortgage and your equity."
The deferral measure,
Senate Bill 6178, contains an emergency clause that allows the measure
to become law immediately upon the governor's signature. Bailey offered an
amendment to remove the emergency clause.
"Let's be clear that
this emergency clause will circumvent the ability of a referendum by the
people. There are many unanswered questions about this bill. We need the
full 90 days to let this measure sit while the people have an
opportunity to consider it. The first date affected by this bill doesn't
take place until April when the first half of the property taxes are
due. I really cannot find
anything in the bill that would require an emergency action," said
Bailey.
The amendment was rejected
on a 58-37 vote.
"This is not tax relief.
It's a tax deferral. You would still owe the taxes, plus the accrued
interest," she added. "A better plan would have been to give back to
property owners some of their hard-earned money in the form of a rebate
or simply lower taxes."
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For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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