Seattle P-I Columnist Joel Connelly writes about concern over-taxing people to the point where they can’t afford to live in Seattle:

“Although devoured by the Seattle P-I computer when we switched e-mail systems, the message from an elderly Beacon Hill couple about their tax burdens remains embedded in my mind. They wrote about reaching a point where they can’t afford to stay in their modest home of 40 years, and how nobody in government seems the least bit interested in hearing about it.”

Glad to see that someone is figuring out that taxpayers from both major parties, Democrats & Republicans, as well as Independents,  have serious challenges in their efforts to save for retirement, pay for medical care, send their children to college, and take care of their parents, along with the relentless ASKS from local elected officials, cities, counties, and agencies. Joel’s response?

“In short, just say no.”

More and more people are figuring out that  elected officials, cities, & counties separate out what they think is palatable to the taxpayers- parks, libraries, fire and police services- so that they can happily spend on non-essentials in the general fund on items they know the public WOULD NOT vote to approve.

Then there is the question of: what are we paying for?

Crosscut’s Ted Van Dyk wrote October 21, 2008 about Sound Transit’s transfer of taxpayer funds for voter “education” services (click here):

“State Auditor Brian Sonntag is investigating payments of taxpayer funds by the City of Seattle (authorized by Mayor and Sound Transit Board Chair Greg Nickels) to the Sound Transit-supporting Transportation Choices Coalition, which is campaigning for the light rail proposal.”

Now, here’s the top story from King 5 news alleging: “Did Bellevue break the law in push to pass parks levy?”

“But one thing cities can’t do is use tax dollars to help convince voters to say yes. It’s against state law. Yet the KING 5 Investigators have uncovered evidence that Bellevue has done exactly that in its determination to get a new parks levy passed.”

See the King 5 story on the Bellevue parks bond at: http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_102008INV_bellevue_parks_levy_SW.13007a1d8.html

How does the cumulative number of tax proposals  relate to transportation planning in the Puget Sound region? Here are Joel’s thoughts:

“There’s one more reason for the natives to be restless — the current financial crisis. Could we not curb urban vision until financial markets are again stable, and we find out how bad the stable smells?

Since World War II ended the Great Depression, Seattle has been a middle-class city. We’ve avoided an affliction of the used-up portions of America, cities as domains of the very rich and the very poor.

The Beacon Hill couple’s message is somewhere in cyberspace. I would hate to see them ejected from a city they love.”

Click to see RTF’s previous posts on this subject HERE. And on future infrastructure ASKS: HERE.

In an article in the Seattle Times, reporter Will Mari quotes various contenders for the 41st district seats.

Read their views (links to their websites are provided) on Sound Transit’s Prop 1 (ST2) tax proposal for 2008, and other ideas on transportation improvements that would provide congestion relief for the eastside, such as bus rapid transit (BRT), and the future use of the BNSF rail corridor.

Here’s a few excerpts from the Times article:

“(Steve) Litzow, 46, a Mercer Island city councilman, faces Democrat Marcie Maxwell, 53, in a tight race. The House seat became open when Democratic Rep. Fred Jarrett decided to run for state Senate.”

“The big issue on people’s minds is the economy, despite the area’s comparative wealth, and voters will not be marching in lock-step, (Steve) Litzow argues.

“Mercer Island residents depend on I-90, and most of the district’s voters live on or near I-405. As a result, transportation joins education as the most important issues on voters’ minds….”

“Litzow opposes Proposition 1, the proposed sales-tax increase that would extend light rail north, south and east. Instead, he wants bus-rapid transit combined with light rail running north-south along the former BNSF Railway line on the Eastside.”

Here is a link to Litzow’s proposals for transportation improvements on the Eastside (scroll down halfway):  Reduce Traffic Congestion: http://stevelitzow.com/index.php?p=30

“His opponent, (Marcie) Maxwell, is a Renton Realtor and member of the Renton School Board. She’s more on the fence regarding Prop. 1, but is concerned about the emphasis on light rail.

“On the Eastside, we need to have the convenience and the routes” to make mass transit more of an option for commuters, she said.”

Maxwell’s statement would seem to support the flexibility of bus rapid transit corridors.

Here is a link to her position on transportation:

Reducing Traffic Congestion:  http://www.marciemaxwell.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=27

Fred Jarrett (D) is running for State Senate.

Here is a link to his website: http://vote4fred.org/default.aspx

From the Times:

“State Senate switcheroo”

“In the Senate race, Fred Jarrett is running as a Democrat for the first time.”

“Jarrett is in favor of Prop. 1. While not perfect, “it doesn’t matter to me whether the transit has rubber wheels or tracks,” he said.”

His opponent for State Senate is Bob Baker.Here is a link to his views on transportation:

“Are your transportation tax dollars getting you to work faster OR are they focused instead on government efforts at social engineering? “ http://www.voteforbaker.com/issues.shtml

From the Times article on Bob Baker:

“The 21-year Navy veteran, “Top Gun” graduate and Alaska Airlines pilot spent a career on the F-14 Tomcat as a test pilot. He also worked at the Pentagon, a job that included testifying before congressional committees and convincing admirals and generals to fund appropriation projects.

Like Jarrett, he said he shares a disdain for waste, and backs State Auditor Brian Sonntag’s use of performance audits to look for savings in state agencies….”

“An opponent of Prop. 1, (Bob) Baker favors bus-rapid transit instead of an east-west rail line.

“By Sound Transit’s own analysis, it won’t relieve traffic congestion,” he said.

As far as his district in concerned, he said it’s “not so much that it’s moved Democratic, but we have a lot of independents a, as people weigh their options.”

In a New York Times article titled: “Under Strain, Cities Are Cutting Back Projects” , the changed economic situation for cities and agencies is outlined:

“Analysts said the dysfunction in the municipal bond markets appeared to signal the end of an era of relatively cheap money for governments and, probably, the start of an era of tough choices for communities.

When the market starts moving again, they said, it will look a lot like the municipal bond market of 10 years ago, before the arrival of financial wizardry in the form of structured-finance products, which lowered borrowing costs but added big new risks. Instead, governments will probably be issuing plain-vanilla bonds with fixed rates of interest, higher than they are accustomed to.

And higher rates suggest some degree of belt-tightening, especially difficult in places where tax revenues are being squeezed because of falling real estate values and the slowing economy.”

How will this difficult market for credit affect the ultimate cost of large projects like Sound Transit 2 (Prop 1)?

How might that affect the price of the Prop 1 tax proposal and subsequent tax burden on families?

Read the article at: “Under Strain….”

Articles considering the tax proposals on the books for fall 2008 in the Puget Sound area, and comparing them with the current regional economic climate (as well as the state of the U.S. & world stock market) are piling up.

Meanwhile, Seattle has a long list of tax proposals for 2008 in addition to Sound Transit, and both the cities of Seattle and Bellevue are asking voters for more tax dollars for parks bonds.

How will these additional taxes affect your decision on ST2 (Prop 1)?

Here’s a sample of the articles:

1. The Seattle Times: Editorials/Opinion: “Approve Pike Place Market Upgrade; Reject Seattle Parks Levy“:

“All property-tax increases are a difficult sell in this alarming economic climate. Yet the proposal to do basic seismic and core infrastructure upgrades to the beloved market is the most well-thought-out and necessary. ”

“The most compelling argument against the plan is the council is attempting to make permanent an allegedly one-time tax. Proponents say they need levy funds to acquire new parkland and develop new open space. Yes, they do, but that is what they said eight years ago. Putting this back on the ballot without even a one-year hiatus proves supporters believe taxpayers should always be buying parkland. If voters say yes, this becomes, for all practical purposes, a permanent levy because park supporters will return in six years with a similar request and argument…

…But one or two promising proposals are not enough to get voters over the hump of ballot fatigue and overtaxation in trying economic times.

Seattle voters cannot afford to fix up every part of the city every year while middle-class and lower-income families are so pinched they may not be able to afford to remain in their homes.

Mayor Nickels opposes the park levy because he says this is the wrong time to ask voters for so many tax dollars. He favors the market levy and a major sales-tax hit in the Sound Transit package.

At least the mayor is picking and choosing. Voters should, too: no to parks, yes to the Pike Place Market.”

2. The Seattle Times: “Taxes Times Three: Can You Afford Them?”

“The Seattle City Council is the gang that can’t say no. It can’t say no to a new idea. It can’t say no to a property-tax increase. So this November, Seattle voters will face three money measures: two from City Hall, one from Sound Transit…

…Sound Transit also opted to place expansion of light rail and buses on the fall ballot — a sales-tax increase.

Housing slump be damned. Don’t worry about rising gas and food prices. Blow off concerns about tax increases from other jurisdictions or utility rate increases from City Hall. This council cannot worry about rising costs pinching residents.

Voters will hear how the parks levy is not technically an increase, it’s a renewal and, whoa, such a deal, if voters will just say yes.”

3. Crosscut article by Knute Berger: “Seattle’s Money Madness”

“If we’re going to have to cough up for higher basics like bus fares, water, and garbage, let’s figure out places to save. An easy start is to limit new spending. We have to live within our means and scale back ambitions so that those below the median income can still afford to live here. That means cutting back and tightening the belt, being selective about new initiatives, and demanding our electeds look out for the little guy, who doesn’t want to get priced off the bus or out of the supermarket.”

LETTERS:

To the HeraldNet: “Tax Burden Already Too Heavy Here”

“While passage of this measure will look great on a politician’s resume, somehow this has to be paid for. I suggest that it is time to get realistic and put money into expanded bus service, which seems to be the most cost-efficient method of mass transit.”

To the West Seattle Herald: “City Hall: Out of Control”

“City Hall wants two new levies, one new tax, one conservation program, three rate increases and Sound Transit wants yet another $18 billion to add to our already onerous tax burden at a time when the economy is doing poorly.”

“For the median Seattle family, this amounts to $46,000. Adding another $930 to this is a big hit, especially for the middle and low income families or seniors living on a fixed income who may be forced from their homes by any tax increase.”

http://www.westseattleherald.com/articles/2008/10/06/interact/letters_to_the_editor/letter06.txt

The Bellevue City Council will seek comments from people about proposed changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan and other recommendations related to developing a light rail system at a study session Monday at City Hall.

Proposed light rail project draws keen interest Eastside Business Journal, Washington - 3 hours ago A large crowd turned out for Monday's Council study session to hear Sound Transit staff update elected officials on a proposed East Link Light Rail project ...