HomeMy WebLinkAbout2554 Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2554
A RESOLUTION regarding Initiative 722.
WHEREAS, the November 2000 general election ballot will include
Initiative 722, a proposal to limit property taxes and rollback tax and fee
increases put in place between July 2 and December 31, 1999; and
WHEREAS, in December 1999, the Pasco City Council elected to
increase the local property tax to offset a significant portion of the loss of Motor
Vehicle Excise Tax occasioned by the passage of Initiative 695, rather than
close a fire station or make other significant service reductions; and
WHEREAS, the effect of the property tax limitations contained in I-722
would result in the loss of at least $600,000 of annual property tax revenue
from the City of Pasco general budget and such loss would compound each
year thereafter due to the arbitrary 2% annual growth limit contained in I-722;
and
WHEREAS, the rollback of the property tax and other tax and fee
increases put in place between July 2 and December 31, 1999 represents a
total impact of more than $900,000, which I-722 would require to be repaid;
and
WHEREAS, the combined effect of the tax and fee refund, together with
the mandated reduction of the ongoing property tax levy, results in a total
financial impact to the City of Pasco exceeding $1.8 million in calendar year
2001; and
WHEREAS, the loss of $1.8 million in calendar year 2001, as well as the
continuing loss of more than $1 million annually, represents an extraordinary
impact on the ability of the city to deliver its present array and level of services
to the community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pasco has successfully reduced its crime rate
from one of the highest in the state ten years ago to now approximate the state
average, as a result of a focused community effort which requires the
expenditure of 5% of its general fund budget just for annual jail costs,
compared to the typical Washington city which spends less than 2% for annual
jail services; and
WHEREAS, the Pasco City Council was elected by the citizenry to make
decisions in the best interest of the community while delivering the array of
services needed by the community at the most affordable cost; and
WHEREAS, I-722 effectively negates the present ability of the elected
City Council to exercise representative government and imposes a "one size fits
all" mentality, irrespective of the particular service needs of different
communities; and
WHEREAS, if I-722 is approved by the voters, it will leave little choice for
the Pasco City Council but to reduce emergency (fire and/or police) services,
recreation services, library services, park and street maintenance services;
WHEREAS, I-722 will effectively require the owners of property with
values growing slowly to pay a disproportionately larger share of the
community's property tax levy, creating a distinct inequity in the distribution of
property tax responsibility and unfairly benefiting the owners of property with
values growing faster than average; and
WHEREAS, the inequity created by I-722 is expected to affect
predominantly those owning older homes in older neighborhoods and those of
very low income and many elderly property owners living on fixed incomes;
NOW THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON, DO
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the Pasco City Council hereby opposes Initiative 722
and urges the state legislature to define an appropriate modification of the
property tax levy in response to the taxpayer concerns reflected in the
initiative.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco at a regular meeting this
2nd day of October 2000.
Michael L. Garrison, Mayor
ATTEST:
Catherine D. Seaman, Deputy City Clerk Leland B. Kerr, City Attorney