The Democratic senator who is prime sponsor of Senate Bill 5770 today told The Washington State Standard that the bill will not be brought forward
Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver and Senate Republican budget leader, offered this comment after learning the proposal to allow local governments to raise property taxes by up to 3% annually without a vote of the people will not move any further this legislative session.
The Democratic senator who is prime sponsor of Senate Bill 5770 today told The Washington State Standard that the bill, which was placed on the Senate voting calendar Wednesday, will not be brought forward. Most of the 18 Democrats who are sponsors of the bill hail from the Puget Sound area, and 13 Democrats on the Senate Ways and Means Committee had approved the bill Monday.
“Republicans are working to lower the cost of living, and housing costs are a big part of that. I can’t figure out why so many Democrats from Puget Sound counties got behind this idea. They of all people should have realized it would make housing even more expensive, both to buy and to rent, at a time when people are already struggling to get by.
“The supporters of this bill didn’t highlight how the 1% cap set by voters nearly 20 years ago and confirmed by the Legislature in 2007 applies to annual property-tax increases approved at the council level. Local governments have always had the option to go above 1% if they get voter approval. More than anything this bill was about making it easier to raise property taxes without asking voters. I’m glad it is off the table for this year, but taxpayers should still be outraged that the bill got as far as it did.”
Watch the FOX 13 story on SB 5770.
Read more about SB 5770 on the Washington State Senate website.
Also read:
- High school football: Nikko Speer’s exceptional ability at multiple positions a big key for CamasCamas star Nikko Speer shines as linebacker and tight end, key to Papermakers’ state playoff run.
- DOGE: Examples of federal spending that could be on the chopping blockElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, targeting controversial federal spending.
- Washington auditor finds $1.9M in ‘double dip’ unemployment/paid leave payoutsWashington State Auditor finds $9 million in double-dipping unemployment and paid leave claims by the Employment Security Department.
- Opinion: WA state wants to increase bureaucrats’ salaries by $1.3 billion despite claims the state is facing a budget shortfallWashington state plans a $1.3 billion bureaucrat salary increase despite facing a significant budget shortfall.
- Area races appear headed for an automatic recountSeveral local races in Clark County head toward automatic recounts as vote counts remain close.
- Hockinson School District hosts Journey tribute band for community benefit concert Dec. 5Hockinson School District hosts a Journey tribute concert Dec. 5, supporting local families through a canned food drive.
- Expect nighttime delays on southbound I-5 near Woodland, Nov. 19Expect delays on southbound I-5 near Woodland on Nov. 19 for lane repairs improving driving safety on the North Fork Lewis River Bridge.