I truly hope that many read The Chronicle article “”all bad news” explaining the Washington state budget shortfall.
Dave Reich, state chief economist, noted a $412 million decline in tax receipts since the governor and Legislature passed the “highest tax increase in history” with the last session.
Mr. Reich further projected “tough budget decisions with potentially further cuts to state services and higher taxes.”
Rep. Ed Orcutt stated “increasing taxes has not resolved the problem so maybe it’s time to look at the other side of the equation.”
With all of this — cap and trade, the leap in the cost of gas to improve air quality that comes across the Pacific from China, and the January session of the Legislature expected to increase taxes further — are there other options?
I recently read an article that Florida and Texas are planning to cease property taxes. You may declare that you own your house and property, but in reality you are paying rent to the state annually.
Is it too much to consider that these two states seem to be budgeting far better than our Legislature is doing? Further, would it be too great a step to humbly ask how they are doing that?
Or is it the goal of those in Olympia to work as hard as possible to be more in debt than California?
It appears the answer to those questions is equally too difficult for the Legislature to answer. Rather, expect and try to plan for even higher taxes, greater state government in your daily life, and life becoming even more difficult and costly.
With the next elections I am concerned that all of the Democratic leaders we presently have will again be elected. When will the voters ask, “What are they doing, and where’s this beautiful state of Washington headed?
Paul Meyers
Centralia
