OLYMPIA… Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Bellingham, voted today to reenact the 1 percent property tax levy limit created by voters in 2001, three weeks after the state Supreme Court tossed the cap out on a technicality. House Bill 2416 passed 39-9 in the Senate after receiving an 86-8 vote in the House.

“Almost 60 percent of the voters in the 42^nd Legislative District supported the limit when they had the opportunity six years ago, through Initiative 747,” Brandland said. “There are some in the Legislature who would like a higher limit, and we heard from them today before voting. But the I-747 law has slowed the growth of property taxes statewide by more than 1.6 billion dollars, and that’s plenty of reason for the taxpayers to want it back.”

Waiting until the 2008 regular legislative session to address the tax limit, Brandland said, would have disrupted local governments that must set budgets and tax levy rates for next year no later than Friday.

“People want their property taxes to be predictable, especially now that they’re seeing huge jumps in their property valuations because of the strong real estate market. Their tax bills are going up accordingly, so they’re looking to the I-747 limit for some relief,” Brandland explained.

When Senate Bill 6177, which was identical to HB 2416, came before the Senate Ways and Means Committee on which he serves, Brandland supported an amendment that would require taxing districts to ask voters for permission before using their “banked capacity.” State law allows taxing districts to stockpile unused levy capacity, and while the I-747 bill passed today eliminates any banked capacity created by the Supreme Court ruling, it leaves an estimated $108 million worth of taxing authority on the table. The amendment was rejected.

Also today, Brandland voted against Senate Bill 6178, which would allow property owners with household incomes up to approximately $57,000 to defer up to half of their property tax bill. In exchange for the deferral, the state would hold a lien on the property until the deferred amount is paid back with interest.

“The tax deferral bill doesn’t look at people based on need. A family of five with a household income of 57 thousand dollars would be eligible, but so would an unmarried homeowner with no children and a 57 thousand-dollar income. At least the tax deferral option the state offers to senior citizens and disabled people appears to take need into account,” Brandland said.

“This new policy only postpones the tax burden, it doesn’t reduce the tax burden. And it fails to address the underlying issues that make housing unaffordable. I don’t know what the rush was to approve this measure today.” SB 6178 passed 27-21 in the Senate and 55-39 in the House.

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Sen. Brandland is Republican Caucus whip and represents Washington’s 42^nd District, which includes Bellingham, Lynden and Blaine. 

For more information contact Eric Campbell at (360) 786-7503 or campbell.eric@leg.wa.gov