Washingtonians in Seattle and two counties rise up to oppose tax hikes
Seemingly emboldened by the recent election results, some local elected officials in Seattle and in two of the largest counties in the state have been eager to propose and vote on various tax hikes before the end of the year.
But they didn’t count on the response from constituents they’ve been seeing thanks to your engagement.
In Seattle, the city council voted twice on a capital gains income tax. Facing widespread outcry in opposition, it failed both times – and by a wider margin in the second vote last week.
In Snohomish County, in hearings over the last three weeks, the county council heard verbal and written testimony from hundreds in opposition to an 8% property tax increase proposed by the County Executive. Due to the massive response from citizens, the property tax increase was eventually rolled back by half.
The Port of Bellingham, in Whatcom County, ended up walking away from a proposed property tax increase of 1%. Property taxes there will remain at the same level in 2025.
In Whatcom County Council approved the county executive’s property tax hike, passing an 11.4% increase in the county’s levies with a 4-3 vote. The circumstances behind that in particular are worth paying attention to.
A hearing that began at 6 PM on Tuesday, November 19, lasted a full 8.5 hours due to the many Whatcom residents who testified in opposition. The chambers were packed, with individuals standing in the back. The crowd comprised of retirees, young renters, first-time homeowners, small business owners, and veterans. Future 42 Whatcom County director Hannah Ordos was there for the duration.
One woman who testified told the council, “This is a room of the most diverse group of voters that I have ever seen, and nobody wants you to raise taxes.”
Community members shared their stories about struggling with rising costs and urged the council to find ways to cut expenses and to be more fiscally responsible, accountable, and transparent.
As the meeting extended into the early morning hours, one attendee ordered pizzas for the room. But in the end, it passed. Council members Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas, and Mark Stremler voted against the property tax increase. Council members Barry Buchanan, Todd Donovan, Kaylee Galloway, and Jon Scanlon voted for it.
Council member Ben Elenbaas said, “Every time we turn around we’re seeing evidence that people can’t afford to pay more and they’re screaming at us that they don’t want to pay more. I’m having a real hard time pretending I don’t hear those people throughout the day.”
This is significant because this tax hike was anticipated to pass easily and with little attention. It did not. Residents are rising up, taking a stand, and holding their elected officials accountable to the will of the people.
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we’re grateful for the growing community around the state working to accomplish better futures for our families. Lawmakers are realizing people like you are paying attention in a way they never have before. You can continue to look forward to Future 42 action alerts, both local and statewide, and we will continue to work with you to create a free and prosperous future for Washington. Thank you.