On Thursday, March 23rd, Washington State's "Anti-Tax Warrior" - Tim Eyman - testified in front of the Sound Transit Board; an unelected group of regional "big wigs"; and Tim tore into them with a righteous fury.
This board, has illegally set up a car tabs registration scheme which is inflating the value of vehicles within a highly "gerrymandered" taxing district for norther Pierce County, all of King County, and southern Snohomish County. (Pierce Co. voted 57% "No" on the proposition and some legislators are considering bills which would provide an "opt-out" measure. It's that bad!)
The proposition's purpose? To take 30 - 40 years to collect taxes from this region - which, over the past two years, had its population increase by 90% - to build a light-rail network that will not be started until after 20 - 30 years have passed, and will impact ONLY 3% of those driving on the I-5 north/south, I-90 east/west, and I-405 which by-passes Seattle through Bellevue, increase the average property tax within this area by $100/month, and adding a .50 sales tax.
As you'll hear in this video, now that notices are arriving in tax payer's mailboxes, local television and radio talk shows in the region are on fire over this revelation. (Many voters were unaware of the details and had been convinced a rapid transit system in the Puget Sound was desperately needed; but at what cost?) Watch and be informed. If you have yet to receive your car tabs bill, and live within this taxing district, be prepared to be shocked. For example: a 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer - Kelly Blue Book valued at $10,500 - is shown to be valued by Sound Transit's valuation at $13,000! Thus, the rip-off.
Due to the increased attention this has generated during the current state legislative session, several bills are being dropped in an attempt to rectify the problem; some worthy of consideration, some ridiculous. To be continued...
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