COMMENTARY

February 4, 2005

You say “No,” they say “Yes”

Legislators seek permanent property tax hike for education

by Marsha Richards, Evergreen Freedom Foundation
Ten state legislators are sponsoring a bill that claims allowing regional cost-of-living salary increases for teachers “is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions.”

HB 1484 would permit school districts to run school levies that permanently increase property taxes by as much as $0.75 per $1,000 assessed value (about $165 a year for a house worth $220,000). The new tax would pay for regional cost-of-living salary increases (on top of the increases provided by Initiative 732), and more education programs (as defined by Initiative 728).

The bill violates or overrides three constitutional provisions put in place to protect taxpayers. These require that 1) a minimum of 40 percent of the voters who participated in the last general election turn out to vote on school levies; 2) levies earn super-majority approval of at least 60 percent; and 3) levies be reauthorized every four years (Article VII, Sections 1 and 2).

By declaring emergency, HB 1484 sponsors prohibit voters from repealing the tax through referendum, and they allow counties to run special (sometimes known as “stealth”) levy elections. The legislation also exempts the new levies from the increase caps that govern other regular levies, and it opens a Pandora’s Box of constitutional issues related to funding equalization across districts.

When legislators temporarily suspended funding for I-732 and amended I-728 to plug gaping budget holes in 2003, members of the education establishment and teachers’ union loudly accused them of thwarting the will of the people and demanded reinstatement. Legislators refused; most are well aware that voters approved the initiatives (in 2000) on the explicit promise that neither would require new or increased taxes.

This prompted education and union officials to draft their own tax increase proposal (Initiative 884) for the November 2004 ballot. Despite a multi-million-dollar campaign, the measure went down in flames, 61-39 percent.

Foiled again, they’re now teaming up with a more willing legislative body.

Washington citizens have spoken loudly and clearly. They’re beginning to question the decades-old claim that “more money” results in higher student achievement. Besides, the state has $1.5 billion in new revenue to spend this budget cycle. Spenders say it’s not nearly enough, but voters say prioritize.

“No” means “no.” It will be interesting to see who’s listening.

Marsha Richards is the Education Reform Center Director for the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a non-partisan, public policy watchdog organization, focused on advancing individual liberty, a free-market economy, and limited and responsible government.

Contact: Marsha Richards | Education Reform Center Director | 360.956.3482

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org