Not on the backs of state workers
In Kate Riley’s latest column [“Senate Dems dazed and confused,” Opinion, Feb. 12], she states that the best thing for this state financially would be to open union contracts and stop wage increases, as well as bring health-care benefits more in line with the private sector.
Kate, why must the low-paid, financially strapped state worker shoulder the bill for our budget shortfall? Although state workers have good benefits, they are also woefully behind the private sector in pay. Your plan would freeze their wages and essentially cause them to take a huge pay cut.
Is that really fair to the teacher who makes $35,000 in Seattle and can’t afford to live in Seattle? What’s your plan when we can no longer recruit teachers to educate our future? Why not fix our revenue system instead?
We have one of the most regressive tax systems in the country. Large businesses that accrue huge profits receive big tax breaks and the low-paid workers pay the highest sales tax in the country. Tell me Kate, how exactly is this fair?
— Nate Rozeboom, Seattle
Thank you taxpayers
Sometimes when I read opinions about taxes and Olympia, I get the feeling that it’s us against them. But aren’t they the same as us?
Don’t forget the good work the tax-funded programs do. I am an example of tax dollars well spent and am grateful for what “you” have done for me. You’ve helped me every time you’ve purchased some good or paid your property tax. I know when I see you working in our community — doing whatever it is you do — I owe you thanks. I have been on assistance but that is over for me because you were there and I received the hand up I needed. I am now a student at the University of Washington.
All this rhetoric about taxes misses the point. When it comes down to it, are we here for each other in times of need or not? Those, like me, who have received help from the state not only appreciate it deeply but want to regain our membership in this society.
Now I can stand with you for the next person who needs a hand up. Thank you for that. This makes Washington state strong and it’s paid for through our taxes.
— Kelly McQuade, Seattle
Cut police and fire services, eliminate waste
What is going on in the Legislature when the Democrats can just change the law — voter initiatives — with a simple vote that changed the two-thirds supermajority on tax legislation to a simple majority? They are obviously getting ready to raise taxes.
Why not cut police and fire services. Why are they exempt? Every department could cut 15 percent without even noticing it. Even police and fire services have waste — when I worked at Boeing, we always used downturns in our economy to get rid of waste and deadwood.
Why even have voter initiatives if they can just be changed by a simple vote? And how do you square the govenor’s campaign statement “We will never raise taxes in a recession like this one”?
— Bill Johnson, Maple Valley
Call to raise sales tax
A fair and reasonable way to raise tax revenue to help solve the state’s budget woes is by increasing the state sales tax by one-quarter or one-half percent. In doing so, the Legislature should pass this legislation with a sunset clause of one year. If it is still needed after one year, this special tax can be extended one more year.
I do not favor increasing penalty taxes — on tobacco, liquor, etc. These targets are taxed enough already, as is the gasoline tax. A slight increase in sales tax — including sales tax from out-of-state visitors — will generate a lot of revenue to help the shortfall. This help may bring back some of the essential services we have lost, mainly in education, forestry and other state programs.
For example, the Department of Natural Resources has lost nearly all of its staff to help family forest owners. Numbering about 215,000 in the state, these property owners — who own five acres or more of forested land — were being advised on good stewardship, cost-share programs, stream protection, wildlife habitat preservation, etc.
Beloved governor and esteemed Legislature, please consider this option to help keep Washington state as one of the finest places to live in the world.
— John Malone, East Wenatchee
No sales tax, just pay the $60
So the county wants to raise the sales tax by 3 cents and says this amounts to about $60 per household [“sheriff, prosecutor, judges push county sales-tax hike,” page one, Feb. 12]. This would cover the county’s shortfall and reduce the number of cancellations of public services because of the recession.
We all know from past experience that once a tax is in place, it’s there forever and the only changes would be to increase it further. I have a far better idea and one that would almost immediately solve the county shortfall: Just bill each household the $60 they say the tax would cost the average family.
I’m here with my checkbook open and ready to write. Get the shortfall out of the way and get on with the county’s business of, well, doing business.
— Ed Anderson, Kirkland
Funding rural libraries
I live within the Seattle city limits and was surprised when I opened the recent ballot envelope to find that I was asked to vote on the property tax increase to fund King County rural libraries [“King County library measure ahead slightly,” NWWednesday, Feb. 10]. As my property taxes are already very high, I voted no. I thought, “Why should Seattle residents pay for libraries in rural areas of the county?”
— Kit Herring, Seattle