“While I understand that some local governments desperately need additional revenue, despite the fact that the state coffers are still benefiting from years of revenue surpluses. A property tax increase at the state-level is not necessary.”
The Center Square by Randy Bracht
Problem: Local governments of Washington state claim they need additional money to cover inflationary costs, affordable housing and public safety.
Solution? Solution? Give cities and counties more of the state’s alcohol and cannabis tax revenue.
This is the proposal by state senator Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley. He has introduced two bills bipartisan as a response to some Democrats’ calls to triple the annual increase in property taxes to 3 percent instead of the current limit of 1 percent.
“I’ve seen a lot of bad ideas in Olympia, but raising property taxes and rents during a housing-affordability crisis may be one of the worst–and the cruelest,” Wagoner said in a news release. He is a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee which deals with tax and budget policies.
Wagoner stated that, “as I heard as a member the Tax Structure Work Group,” increasing property taxes are disproportionately affecting lower-income tenants, as increases in property taxes are invariably passed on in the form higher rent. Wagoner also claimed that Washington ranked fifth in the country for housing affordability.
He said that tripling the annual rate of growth in property taxes would increase costs and make homeownership even further away, especially for younger families.
Wagoner instead has made two proposals.
Wagoner said that while the state continues to enjoy years of revenue surpluses and an increase in the property tax is not necessary at the state-level, some local governments desperately need additional revenue.
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Senate Bill 55770 was introduced by Democrats, and it calls for tripling of the current state limit of 1 percent on annual property tax increases. Wagoner stated that the public voiced its opinion “loudly and clearly” during a committee hearing on January 18, with over 91 per cent of respondents opposing the measure.
He said, “We would like to provide people with meaningful relief from property taxes and rental costs and support our counties and municipalities in a manner that does not place additional burdens on taxpayers.”
This article was originally published by The Center Square.
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