Property Taxes

Through the course of the campaign I have spoken with many different people who are concerned and upset with high and still rising property taxes. I have heard from people who have lost their homes because the assessed value of their home continues to increase while their income remains static. This problem is especially difficult on seniors who are living on a fixed retirement income. Our state needs to take a hard look at property tax reform, and below are my three proposals to resolve this issue.

1. We need to restore voter approved initative 747, which set a cap on increase in property tax levies at 1% anually. The Legislature passed a cap on property taxes in the fall of 2007 but it was not a frim cap and did not provide adequate protections for taxpayers.

2. We need to establish a cap on property assessments or valuations. Washington State citizens should be protected and know that their taxes will only increase at a certain rate every year. Another solution would be to set the property value at the acquired value, meaning a piece of property would carry the same assessed value until it was sold to a new owner and the value was reassesed.

3. In order to reduce property taxes, we need to reduce government spending. Tax reform can not occur unless we fight the need for more government revenue. This is why I support a return to I-601 which limits the rate of government spending growth to the rate of population + inflation. This allows the government to provide the same level of service to the same amount of people each year. IUt also protects taxpayers from the spend now pay later approach to government.