By CURT WOODWARD Associated Press Writer OLYMPIA, Wash.(AP) - National labor unions and Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates are among the donors who have poured nearly $1.5 million of last-minute cash into the campaign against Initiative 1033, a ballot measure that would slow the growth of state and local governments.
The donations were collected over the past two weeks, but weren’t disclosed publicly until Saturday, when the No on I-1033 campaign reported its recent fundraising efforts to state campaign regulators.
Why would we post something here about Bellingham? Because we want voters to be informed. Here are a few audio clips from KGMI-AM in Bellingham from Mayor Pike and Tim Eyman.
“I think it’s the role of a city to provide education and information about what the impacts will be to the city,” Mayor Pike said.
“This effort by government to basically use tax dollars to oppose a ballot measure is actually the reason why in the latest poll it shows that it’s 61 percent ‘yes,’ 31 percent ‘no,’ with 8 percent undecided, exactly because they try and manipulate the game the way they do.”
To hear interviews of both positions, visit KGMI.com.
Take notice of how the Renton Reporter headlines this story.
“Renton City Council opposes Initiative 1033, which limits revenues“. Hello. We all know that the revenue stream for a city comes from taxes. Why not call it what it is?
We spoke previously about the assessed values of homes being reduced in some cases by as much as 26%. Again, we ask the question, are my property taxes going to go down by 26%?
Jay Covington states, “If voters approve I-1033, those revenues will likely be diverted to reduce property taxes, severely impacting the city’s ability to afford future investments in infrastructure.”
News flash. The Landing is not bringing in the revenues the City of Renton forecast (with or without I-1033 passing). What Jay’s really saying is that the Landing is not paying for itself and we’re going to have to cut back on other infrastructure improvements in the City because we have to service the debt for The Landing.
Sounds like The City of Renton is trying to figure out a way to cover up how much money we as taxpayers are going to have to dump into The Landing over the next several years until the economy recovers.
Renton City Council opposes Initiative 1033, which limits revenues
Oct 01 2009, 5:08 PM
For the Renton Reporter
The Renton City Council on Monday voted unanimously to oppose Tim Eyman’s latest initiative, Initiative 1033, which is on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The vote came after council members listened to speakers about the pros and cons of the initiative, which would limit certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases.
Read more of the tax increase story at the Renton Reporter. We’re not sure we’ve ever seen the Renton City Council come out in favor of an initiative that would force them to cut spending.
