The Washington state Legislature has been bemoaning the lack of affordable housing.
Instead of using the resources already allocated, they just want more.
In Washington state, property tax is capped at a 1% increase each year. The Legislature wants to raise it to 3%.
We left our family home in Vancouver due to taxes.
The escalated home value caused by house flippers, relocating Oregonians and Californians raised our taxes 2014-2024 from $3,886.02 up to $6,031.76 per year. That is a 64.4% increase over 10 years.
Every government agency is already receiving much more than a 1% increase annually, and even at an average of 6.5% annually that is not enough.
Long-term residents are paying the penalty for house flippers, transfer buyers, mortgage brokers, real estate agents and the government.
Wages and retirement have not increased 6% annually.
Government has forgotten it is about public service not personal enrichment. All I can say is, wow!
I guess the only way to satisfy an addict is more. Sadly, that is the direction the Legislature wants to go.
Jim Ellifritt
Cinebar
