Eyman assured of November vote on property tax limit
                By DAVID AMMONS
                The Associated Press
                7/7/01 3:15 AM


                OLYMPIA (AP) -- Initiative king Tim Eyman came flying in
                with enough voter signatures to assure a public vote this
                November on the aeronautic-sounding Initiative 747.

                His latest effort, the fifth in the past four years, would limit
                property tax growth to 1 percent a year, although local
                officials could ask their voters to exceed that, as schools
                currently do with special levies.

                The campaign began in the hallways around the secretary
                of state's office shortly after Eyman submitted over 280,000
                signatures, easily enough to assure a place on the ballot.
                Just before the close of business Friday, the campaign
                brought in more bundles, bringing their estimated total to
                nearly 293,000.

                Foes told reporters that Eyman's plan would harm basic
                services by undercutting an important source of revenue
                and would hamstring elected officials by requiring them to
                seek voter approval if they need a higher levy to maintain
                vital programs.

                But backers called it a moderate proposal that will help
                taxpayers stay in their homes and force local governments
                to become more efficient.

                Friday was the deadline to turn in initiative signatures.
                Eyman had previously submitted nearly 200,000
                signatures, or roughly the number needed to qualify for the
                ballot. But election officials recommend turning in about
                230,000 to allow for duplicate or invalid signatures.

                The secretary of state's office will do a random check, but
                his total left little doubt that he would again qualify for the
                ballot.

                Eyman is best known for his initiatives rolling back
                affirmative action programs, reducing the car-tab tax to $30
                a year, and requiring public votes on tax increases. The
                courts have struck down some of his measures and voters
                rejected his plan to require 90 percent of all transportation
                money be spent on highway construction.

                "Clearly, 747 is by far the most moderate proposal we're
                ever done," the Mukilteo small businessman told reporters.

                Taxing districts can make do with a 1 percent annual
                increase, and have the option of going to the voters if they
                want to go higher, he said.

                "With 747, the average taxpayer will have an equal voice in
                the process," Eyman said.

                King County Councilman Rob McKenna, a campaign
                adviser, said most jurisdictions now are levying over 6
                percent more each year, based on a "loophole" in an
                earlier voter-approved measure that allows elected officials
                to boost the tax by supermajority vote.

                The basic limit currently is the rate of inflation, plus new
                construction and improvements.

                McKenna called the new plan "a reasonable, moderate
                measure that has the safety valve" of the public vote.
                Before local leaders place a tax referendum on the ballot,
                they'd have to "scrub their budgets, squeeze their budgets
                down" and make a compelling case for an increase, he
                said.

                Monte Benham, co-sponsor from Kennewick, said people
                are being taxed out of their homes. Taxes are doubling
                every 12 years in many places, he said.

                "That's what happens when taxes are increased by 6
                percent a year and the laws of mathematics and
                compounding take over," he said.

                He said it's not accurate to call a smaller annual increase
                a "cut" to local government.

                But opposition spokesman Christian Sinderman said that's
                exactly what it would mean.

                "One percent does not keep pace with the cost of providing
                services," he said. "This would hamstring local service
                providers, including hospitals, libraries and fire districts. It
                would be impossible to plan ahead and to be able to
                provide essential services.

                "To say it doesn't cut is just a lie."

                Opponents, largely bankrolled by labor groups so far, will
                conduct a vigorous campaign, he said in an interview.

                Eyman, meanwhile, said his campaign is broke, after
                spending nearly all of its treasury to get on the ballot. He
                said more than 5,000 donors gave a total of more than
                $320,000. If foes throw up "threats, lies and scare tactics"
                as they did when he tried to roll back the car-tab fees, it
                should be easy for the initiative to pass, he said.

                "We'll just see what they throw at us" before deciding on
                the scope of the campaign, he said in an interview.
                ------                 On the Net:

                Sponsors: http://www.i-747.com/  

               Secretary of state: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/inits/
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