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- Take a good, hard look at I-1033
Take a good, hard look at I-1033
- By Contributor Submission
- Published 10/8/2009
- Commentary
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By BOB JONES
We’ve seen quite a bit of Tim Eyman over the years, and he’s even spent some time in Yakima County recently pushing his latest initiative I-1033 which he says will “protect taxpayers by reducing our state’s obscene and unsustainable property tax burden by controlling the growth of government to an affordable level.”
Now, I’m no more a fan of big government than the next guy, and I own enough property to be thoroughly aware of the impact of property taxes, BUT…..this measure is something we all should review carefully.
It goes something like this. Under I-1033, general fund revenue for any year would be limited to the amount of revenue received by the state, county or city, as applicable, in the previous year, plus a percentage increase reflecting inflation and population growth to be determined by the Washington State Office of Financial Management.
Have you glazed over yet? Complicated language is one reason for Tim Eyman’s success. As he outlines his proposal, everything beyond “limit government” and “reduce taxes” gets fuzzier and fuzzier.
What does this mean for Selah? That’s where I have to put my focus and where I hope you will put yours.
At a recent Council Meeting Clerk/Treasurer Dale Novobielski reported on the impact of Initiative 1033. He provided each councilmember with a handout showing the impact the Initiative would have had it passed in 2008. He said Selah's revenues in 2008 would have exceeded the amount allowable under I-1033 by $336,315.
City Supervisor Frank Sweet said that means the 2009 General Fund would have been reduced by $336,315, and the following year’s funds would be lower and so on and so on.
In the City of Selah, General Fund revenues are used for parks & recreation, fire, police, planning, finance, and administration, including court and legal expenses, staffing, building and community development.
In recent years the Council has worked very hard to eliminate waste in our City government. Department heads have been required to trim their budget proposals each year, and they’ve done it. Because of that frugality, we are in the position to be punished if Initiative 1033 passes.
The text of 1033 is similar to other taxpayer “bill of rights” (“TABOR”) legislation introduced nationwide. These measures have been defeated in various states, including Oregon and California. Colorado voters approved a similar initiative in 1992, but in 2005 voters approved the suspension of that initiative due to its fiscal impact.
I urge all citizens to make themselves aware of Initiative 1033 and its implications for our City.
We’ve seen quite a bit of Tim Eyman over the years, and he’s even spent some time in Yakima County recently pushing his latest initiative I-1033 which he says will “protect taxpayers by reducing our state’s obscene and unsustainable property tax burden by controlling the growth of government to an affordable level.”
Now, I’m no more a fan of big government than the next guy, and I own enough property to be thoroughly aware of the impact of property taxes, BUT…..this measure is something we all should review carefully.
It goes something like this. Under I-1033, general fund revenue for any year would be limited to the amount of revenue received by the state, county or city, as applicable, in the previous year, plus a percentage increase reflecting inflation and population growth to be determined by the Washington State Office of Financial Management.
Have you glazed over yet? Complicated language is one reason for Tim Eyman’s success. As he outlines his proposal, everything beyond “limit government” and “reduce taxes” gets fuzzier and fuzzier.
What does this mean for Selah? That’s where I have to put my focus and where I hope you will put yours.
At a recent Council Meeting Clerk/Treasurer Dale Novobielski reported on the impact of Initiative 1033. He provided each councilmember with a handout showing the impact the Initiative would have had it passed in 2008. He said Selah's revenues in 2008 would have exceeded the amount allowable under I-1033 by $336,315.
City Supervisor Frank Sweet said that means the 2009 General Fund would have been reduced by $336,315, and the following year’s funds would be lower and so on and so on.
In the City of Selah, General Fund revenues are used for parks & recreation, fire, police, planning, finance, and administration, including court and legal expenses, staffing, building and community development.
In recent years the Council has worked very hard to eliminate waste in our City government. Department heads have been required to trim their budget proposals each year, and they’ve done it. Because of that frugality, we are in the position to be punished if Initiative 1033 passes.
The text of 1033 is similar to other taxpayer “bill of rights” (“TABOR”) legislation introduced nationwide. These measures have been defeated in various states, including Oregon and California. Colorado voters approved a similar initiative in 1992, but in 2005 voters approved the suspension of that initiative due to its fiscal impact.
I urge all citizens to make themselves aware of Initiative 1033 and its implications for our City.
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