Yesterday, we wrote about the list of proposed taxes that cities, counties and agencies are proposing for 2008 (CLICK HERE). The concern is that the cumulative cost of the proposed transportation taxes, parks taxes, and other miscellaneous proposals, especially in this economic climate, will not only hurt families, but will be too costly for many Seattle-area families to stay in their homes.

Today, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has concerns about too many tax proposals on the ballot simultaneously:

“I am not supporting it, I am going to vote against it,” Nickels told KIRO radio personality Dave Ross on Tuesday, adding the city’s parks are considered the fourth best in the nation.

“I thought it would be good for us, rather than see property taxes go up, to actually see them decline because of levies leaving the ballot. With this economy, you’ve got to be careful,” Nickels said.

Later in the article, the P-I identifies another tax proposal coming next year:

….”Next year, voters will likely be asked to support the fourth renewal of the affordable housing levy. Nickels said the parks matter could wait until 2010.”

Here are a few of the comments from the article:

“Posted by Soccer.Guy at 10/23/08 7:45 a.m.Parks are basic infrastructure that should be funded out of the general fund, not by special levy. I already voted - “NO” on this.

Posted by DolphinGirl at 10/23/08 7:03 a.m. Did I hear him say something about how nice it would be to see our taxes GO DOWN for a change instead of GO UP if we didn’t vote in any new levies? That would truly be a miracle! Vote NO on all levies. Let’s learn to live within our civic means for a change.

Posted by greymatter at 10/23/08 8:06 a.m. Transit is about the region. The market is about the center of the city. The parks levy is about our neighborhoods. There is nothing flashy in this levy, but instead improvements to the FREE public parks we can use EVERY DAY in ALL Seattle’s neighborhoods. Make your own choice: go with the mayor or go with your neighborhood.

Interesting Point.

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

Seattle is nannying again.

“Faced with more cars than places to park on Seattle streets, the city’s Transportation Department is considering restricting the number of residential parking permits people can have.”

Who gets to use a car? You or your roommate?

Will this proposal create more problems than it attempts to solve?

Read the article at : http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/373179_park01.html?source=rss

PROPOSED CHANGES

Limited to one permit per household:

Zone 4 on Capitol Hill

Zone 7 on First Hill

Zone 13 on Lower Queen Anne

Zone 21 in the Pike-Pine area of Capitol Hill

Zone 24 in the Cascade neighborhood near South Lake Union

Limited to two permits per household:

Zone 2 near Providence Hospital

Zone 5 in Wallingford

Zone 6 in the east University District

Zone 8 in Eastlake

Zone 10 in the west University District

Zone 15 in the Belmont/Harvard area on Capitol Hill

Zone 17 on north Beacon Hill

Zone 20 in Ravenna/Bryant

Zone 22 near Lincoln High School

Comment on the proposal at: www.seattle.gov/transportation/parking/rpz_policy_review.htm

The city is seeking input until Oct. 20. Contact city parking planner Mary Catherine Snyder at 206-684-8110 or e-mail her at marycatherine.snyder@seattle.gov.

So far, the comments on the PI’s site are at 79- want to bet how high they go?

Details: King County Sheriff’s budget warning (and jail talk) West Seattle Blog, WA - Jun 21, 2008 Rahr’s department also polices Metro transit, she pointed out, adding it’s just been tapped to police Sound Transit, which she says means job opportunities ...

A Seattle City Council committee agreed Tuesday that the Spokane Street Viaduct-widening project should go ahead next year, but members want more assurances of financing for Mercer Street improvements.

Mayor Greg Nickels' new financing plan for the Mercer and Spokane Street improvement projects raised a long list of questions at City Hall Tuesday, prompting members of a City Council committee to postpone action.