When was the last time you heard a government agency tell you “we need less of your money?” That is what the Clark County councilors are discussing. They are considering allowing property owners to keep more of their own money, by reducing property taxes paid to the county by two percent.
For the past three years, Clark County has not raised its tax rates by the one percent allowed by state law. Furthermore, the county has paid off millions in debt, paid off a $10.5 million lawsuit judgement from the 1990s, streamlined the Department of Environmental Services saving roughly $8 million, streamlined the County Assessor’s office saving over $1 million, found annual revenues to hire eight new full-time sheriff’s deputies, plus additional staff.
The cash reserves exceed state requirements and we discontinued all external lines of credit. Financially, the “business” of our county is very healthy.
On the services side – roads are being repaired, parks are now free of admission fees, new parks are being added and existing facilities in some parks are being expanded. All this has occurred without raising your taxes. Again, state law allows a one percent per year increase, which almost all of our cities have done.
Property taxes make up two thirds of county revenues; sales taxes one third. Sales tax revenue has grown by 39 percent since 2010, while property tax revenues have grown by eight percent.
Cutting development fees for job creators has helped spur job growth that is among the highest of any county on the west coast. Now county councilors are considering a way to leave more money in your pockets – a two percent cut in property taxes. At the moment, Clark County has the fourth highest property taxes in the state.
This will not only help many families still struggling to recover from the Great Recession, but it also helps senior citizens living on a fixed income. Plus, in a small way, it makes home ownership a bit more affordable.
I want to applaud our three Clark County councilors – David Madore, Tom Mielke, and Jeanne Stewart – for putting this item on the citizen’s agenda. Let’s have an honest, open discussion; and then let’s be the first county in Washington State history to enact a property tax cut for its citizens.
John Ley
Camas
