9/3/2007
TAX CUTS, FAIR TAX SCHEMES KEEP PEOPLE HERDED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
7/10/2007
Where your
property tax money goes
Over 290,000 property owners in King County don't know how their property taxes
are being spent. These are people who let their mortgage companies pay their
property taxes and because they do not get a statement from the County as to
what the County is doing with their money, are in the financial dark about the
details. The mortgage companies just advise these 290,000+ home owners to, send
us more money for your property tax reserve so we can pay your increased
property taxes."
The Metropolitan King County Council finally passed an ordinance that requires
all property owners to receive an annual statement advising them where their
property tax money is going. This previously was being sent to their mortgage
company.
It has been reported that one Council member stated, That he didn't want them
to know."
Sponsor of the ordinance, Reagan Dunn,R-of Maple Valley said, Its a very
simple premise: Property Owners deserve to know where their money goes." The
League of Washington Taxpayers couldn't agree more.
Maybe it would be a good
idea to see if it's happening in your county, too.
6/26/2007
The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance
During and since the most recent
Washington Legislative session a number of issues have surfaced that you may or
may not be aware of. Some of these actions were taken by our so-called Senators
and Representatives, while others have surfaced more recently. And, as usual,
many of them will result in higher taxes, or the effort of government to take
more control away from the citizens of our state.
1. You may recall that Governor Gregoire promised the taxpayers she would
not propose that any existing taxes would be raised, and that no new ones would
be enacted. It didn't take long for both of those promises to be forgotten. It
must be stated that the Governor had a whole lot of support from the members of
the legislature, but it still remains a fact...she could have vetoed any tax
increase that arrived at her desk for her signature.
2. The Governor was a key player in the passage of the Family Leave bill,
which provides payment to workers of $250 dollars per week for five weeks, and
we, you and I, will pay the bill for this socialistic foolishness.
3. Tolls for driving on the new Narrows Bridge go into effect in July. The
Governor supports the tolls with enthusiasm because the concept is not going to
stop with the Narrows bridge, the plan will be expanded to cover any number of
other transportation facilities...such as the 520 Bridge, the Mercer Island
Bridge, Highway 167..and the list goes on...it's just matter of time.
4. The Governor signed a new tax on car tabs. It will be another $20 for
your car, and could be applied and required by the Counties, Cities and the
State. In other words a $60 increase. The Department of Transportation wants
those car tab taxes back and Gregoire is going help get them for the Department.
Of course the voters did not get to vote on this tax
increase!
5. The Regional Transportation Investment District, known as the RTID,
will apply to the counties of King, Pierce and Snohomish. It is a outrageous tax
package for any number of transportation boondoggles and even several
non-transportation programs. The main recipient is Sound Transit, which never
has had a fixed plan as to where it is going to go, when it's going to get there
and who is going to be in the management structure. All the preceding areas have
constantly undergone revision, cancellation, addition and have spent money like
most governments do, as if it's going out of style. With an estimate that this
system is going to attract about 2.6 percent of the ridership in these 3
counties. Don't ever forget...the bottom-line is to get you out of your car and
riding public transportation! They are never, never, never going to solve the
congestion problem with this plan. Not only is it being championed by Governor
Gregoire, but has the support of King Council members Reagan Dunn and Jane
Hague. Their excuse is that it will provide more money for Freeway 405. The
League of Washington Taxpayers is 100 percent opposed to this rip-off and will
be keeping you posted prior to the election this November, 2007.
Horse Sense
"I place economy among the first and most important virtues,
and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared. To
preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load
us with perpetual debt."