The Governor called a special session for next Thursday, the 29th to reinstate the 1% cap on property taxes. This was an Eyman initiative overturned by the Supreme Court last week.
According to the Seattle Times:
Gregoire said she expects that issue can be dealt with in a one-day session. She plans to put forward two bills, one to reinstate the 1 percent limit and another to provide property-tax deferral “for all families under our state’s median income level.”
House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, said he expects the House would pass a bill to reinstate a 1 percent limit. Democrats hold large majorities in both the House and Senate.
“We polled our House members to see where they were. And they felt comfortable coming back and reinstating the … 1 percent limit,” Chopp said.
Voters in 2001 overwhelmingly approved Initiative 747, a Tim Eyman-sponsored measure that limited increases in property-tax collections to 1 percent a year. The state estimates the cap has saved taxpayers more than $1.6 billion since it was put in place.
But earlier this month, the state Supreme Court overturned I-747. In its 5-4 decision, the court said the tax cap is invalid because people were not fully informed about what they were voting on.
I agree with the idea that voters need to know that Democrats are hearing them when it comes to high property taxes. However, I do think we need to find a democratic approach to this issue.
Goldy at Horses Ass points out a couple ideas that are worth exploring. In other words, it’s fine to reinstate this initiative for now but let’s look at real progressive tax reform next session.