I-1033 goes too far, will hurt cities, counties

THE LATEST tax-cutting initiative from the Tim Eyman political machine is Initiative 1033, which proposes to limit the amount of revenue government jurisdictions could collect in property taxes. In this initiative, Eyman uses the almost universal fear of rising property taxes to continue his assault on state government spending. Had he limited I-1033 to state government, it might have received widespread support. But by extending the tax limitation measure to local government — cities and counties — Eyman goes too far.

His initiative would hamstring the City of Gig Harbor and Pierce County and forever lock them into already seriously reduced budget levels. Local decision-makers should not be punished for any lack of fiscal discipline that plagues the state Legislature.

The initiative argues that the state is on a fiscal roller coaster over the past decade because lawmakers have shown no fiscal restraint, and that fact has taxpayers hopping mad.

The dichotomy, of course, is that the same voters screaming for tax relief and fiscal restraint are the same people who demand increased public services and vote their legislators right back into office.

Initiatives, rightfully, put the power in the hands of the people. But it’s lunacy to write a complicated state budget through the initiative process. That’s why we have a representative democracy. While it’s tempting to force fiscal restraint upon state budget writers, it’s totally unfair to lump local decision-makers into the same fiscal limitations as state lawmakers.

While the state will have almost $6 billion less to spend over a five-year period if I-1033 passes, cities are expected to lose out on $2.1 billion, with counties losing $694 million. Those are fewer dollars to spend on police and fire protection, city and county parks, recreation programs and the myriad services the public has come to expect.

The fiscal binds put in place by I-1033 would cripple local governments, locking them into a base budget level that already has been decimated by the recession.

While it’s tempting to send a message to lawmakers about their fiscal irresponsibility, the truth is, I-1033 would result in additional budget cuts to education, transportation and human services across the state — and it would cripple local governments.

For that reason, we encourage a “no” vote on I-1033 on Nov. 3.