Updated, 12/4: As the holiday season comes upon us, so does the tax season. Unfortunately, all of our local governments but Evergreen Hospital District (presently $.24/ 1000) will have their hands out to the taxpayers, at a terrible economic time when we can least afford it. For perspective, one in four children and one in eight adults are living on food stamps in America.
Watch Redmond citizen J.P. Panesko's forceful 4 minute challenge to the council and mayor requesting spending cuts. The Mayor was noticeably shaken. (advance the video to minute 5:50).
The Lake Washington School District levies and bond measure would raise taxes on an average assessed home by $294 over four years (2010 - 2014); the remainder of the bond ($234 million) is paid down like a mortgage. The King County Redmond Library would lift the lid on taxes about $40/year for the average home in the school district ($505,000). If this isn't enough, the Redmond City Council last night approved an ordinance levying a 1% property tax increase commencing January 1, 2010! My cup has overflowed. (Though the Evergreen Hospital levy is not a measure this year, taxpayers currently pay $121.20 for a home per year within the LW school district.)
Councilmember Cole claimed the levy funds ($13.25/year/house) were "necessary to keep the city running, especially public safety." OMG. The Mayor claimed the city's "long range slow and steady position is Redmond's salvation". Like a squirrel stuffing his cheeks for a winter? Councilmember Myers even joined the herd, claiming the ~ $360,000 levy was a very small increase but it can be used to "attract the best and brightest" employees. (In THIS economy?) Thousands of of qualified workers in Redmond are hungry for work, myself included.
Councilmember McCormick claimed the $359,198 levy is "tiny", then went on to strike every nerve in my body. Ms. McCormick implied the city uses the money to cover rising costs of employee health insurance (!), buy $200,000 traffic signals, and pay employee salaries. My Oh My! Many citizens don't have even basic health insurance. Some none. Others, pay $1000/month just for premiums. Enough said.
Madam President. Mr. Mayor. Have you ever considered implementing salary freezes where you can or cutting COLA's til the worst is over? It happens all the time. Here's a kinder choice than salary cuts: One percent of all public works projects goes to pay for art installation on city construction sites -- whether it's a new manhole cover or under a bridge!
Yes, you now have cap measures on Executive performance bonuses. But, are they implemented? Yes, the Mayor's salary is substantially below market compared to LWSD Superintendent Kimball and CEO Brown of Evergreen Hospital. But, does the Mayor's "salary freeze" justify uninterrupted, slow and steady annual salary increases for your employees? Yes, you've cut 19 jobs, four of them yesterday. But weren't over nine of them contracted Microsoft workers?
Praise to the three councilmembers voting against the levy ordinance -- Pat Vache', Kim Allen, and David Carson. Councilmember Pat Vache' is truly attuned to the business and neighborhood communities. Vache' commended the Mayor on achieving $2.6M in 'innovative' cuts. Yet, he claimed the dire state of the economy changed everything and "what is nice to do is not really necessary" under the circumstances. He wisely noted procedures were in place to tap money in response to an "event".
(NOTE, 1/2/11 - Vache voted FOR the 1% property tax this 2011-12 budget cycle and Myers voted against it).
While I am not against most of these measures, I'm taxed out. How about you?
by Bob Yoder
I've reached the point that I've accepted that everyone in the City of Redmond can live without a budget except for me. Voting against tax increases doesn't work. Year, after year, after year taxes increase exponentially -- and in this economy most families will not be able to keep up. $294 a year may not sound like a lot, but when added to all the other tax increases, price increases and salary cuts or job-losses $300 a year is closer to One Million a year.
ReplyDeleteWait a minute Bob. Don't you think Redmond needs this money to enact their vision for downtown, just like they did with the Trader Joe's development? What a spectacular success that has been. At least now we know what we will get with the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteDo I note a tone of cynicism in your voice,JW ?
ReplyDeleteI like the "Redmond Plaza". I think Trader Joe's is a good anchor for the complex. The cinder block construction, tight parking, and gaudy HSCB bank "art" detract from the plaza, but I still like Trader Joe's, Staples, Radio Shack,Soul House Book Store, and QFC!!!
While I'm sure the city council and mayor may personally stick to budgets, in classic political form, they way too frequently choose elect ability over decisive financial management and genuine budgeting by priorities. The council's recent vote on Education Hill dirt jump decision is one example. Citywide department budgets - including public safety - are down ~6% yet discretionary spending continues, unabated. We didn't need a rocket scientist last quarter to tell us income (revenue) was going to drop drastically, and borrowing money (bonds) was going to get expensive yet the city checkbook remains open for business as usual given you, me, and other residents are expected to pay even more in taxes. Financial management?
ReplyDeleteThe city's Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) program proves the point equally strong. Please, council and mayor. Give the city's employees a bit more credit - they are smart enough to recognize the nation's double digit unemployment harbors dozens of equally or better qualified people chomping at the bit to have A job. The cold, hard blow of today's economic reality that has befallen many in OUR community is a powerful, unbiased and unambiguous fact.
I find councilmember Allen's re-election and position on the levy effort a strong statement from the mythical silent majority that the council and mayor would be smart to recognize and re-focus their collective fiscal responsibility. The money tap is dry and getting pissed.