Pasayten's Methow Valley Bulletin Board

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Look at the title of this Post…..it is about PROPERTY taxes.

- Again, NONE of the items in your rant are paid for with Property taxes. READ your statement.

Plus
-Voter approved changes in law are ONE way to change laws….the other is through the legislative process. That is what happened. It may not be to yoiur liking, or ‘fair’ - but it is certainly within the purview of the legislature.
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Sigh. It took a minute to google search this, you ought to try it sometime.

"Washington State's government is funded through a combination of taxes, including sales tax, business and occupation (B&O) tax, property tax, and fees, as well as federal grants and other revenue sources.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Primary Revenue Sources:
Sales Tax:
A significant portion of the state's revenue comes from sales tax, which is levied on retail purchases.
Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax:
Washington is unique in having a general gross receipts tax, known as the B&O tax, which is based on a business's gross receipts.
Property Tax:
Property taxes are another important source of revenue for the state, particularly for local governments and school districts.
Federal Funding:
The state receives substantial funding from the federal government through various grants and programs.
Other Revenue Sources:
These include license and permit fees, charges for services, and borrowing.
Specific Examples of Funding:
Education:
Washington's public schools are funded through a combination of state, local, and federal sources.
Health Care:
Programs like Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program are funded through a mix of federal, state, and local resources.
Transportation:
Washington's transportation infrastructure is funded through a variety of sources, including transportation taxes and fees, as well as legislative funding packages.
Higher Education:
Public higher education institutions receive funding from state tax appropriations, tuition, and other sources.
State Agencies:
State agencies, like the Department of Agriculture, rely on a combination of state general fund appropriations, federal funds, and fees for services.

just-jim wrote: Wed Apr 02, 2025 7:02 pm .

Jingles wrote: Wed Apr 02, 2025 9:06 am Well it passed so if you were shocked at the last property tax increase, you ain't seen nothin yet " the state Democrat Legislature just passed a bill removing the cap on the limit on property taxes, which was voted on and voted into effect by the voters, so basically the dem legislators are saying screw you voters
Passed so they can supposedly offset the budget deficit while continuing to pay for lazer hair removal of Trans inmates in the state correctional facilities, among other assinine expenditures
i.e. 8.6 mill to the WEA which should be self supporting through their dues, or 7.2 mil to the Cascade Bicycle club, a non profit, also big supporters of the CCL (Climate Commitment Act)

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It often helps to actually know what you are talking about before starting another baseless, ignorant, rant.

No ‘cap’ was removed…it was changed to an increase based on inflation. And the legislature could certainly do that.

NONE of the property taxes you pay, regardless of high they are - or not - go towards ‘lazer(sic) hair removal of trans inmates’ or either of the other 2 organizations you list.

Get out your property tax statement and look at it. Other than 2 categories of ‘State School’ taxes, and a tiny amount of ‘conservation tax’ (that I believe goes to the DNR for fire protection), ALL of our property taxes go to operate our County and local voter approved districts; Schools, Fire District, Aero -Methow, hospitals, cemeteries, etc.

I am sure, however, that won’t stop you from making up things to whine about.

And again….I’m impressed by the irony - and hypocrisy - of someone who enjoyed employment paid by taxes, who gets - I’m betting - most of their current income from public funds…..AND enjoys very nice Health Care, 75+% paid for by public funds.

But, please, DO go on continuing to piss and moan about ‘big gubmint’ and how they dont need any tax money….
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Curious then where does the state get the money for the items mentioned if not from taxes, are they like the Feds where they just print money to cover their spending? They sure as hell don't actually work for it. Maybe they get it from donations? Maybe from emptying the vending machines, newspaper routes? Pan handling? I seem to remember that when the lotto/ mega millions /powerball first came to wash the proceeds were to go to the school budgets.

The 1% cap was put in place by the voters so the Legislature removing the cap is circumventing the will of the people they were elected to represent and basically telling the voters screw you, same as they did with the 30.00 car tabs

Not saying they don't need tax money but they don't need to spend it on the items mentioned, if they weren't wasting it on spending porn they probably wouldn't be 16 B short of their projected budget and if you agree think that is wise spending of any tax money you are part of the problem

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I find it VERY ironic, also, that someone who is concerned about State taxes - that might rise by several % points - also gleefully supports an economically illiterate president who just - today - imposed tariffs on what everyone of us will pay.

Tariffs that amounts to a REAL tax of 10-25%++ on much of what we all buy going forward.
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Jingles wrote: Wed Apr 02, 2025 9:06 am Well it passed so if you were shocked at the last property tax increase, you ain't seen nothin yet " the state Democrat Legislature just passed a bill removing the cap on the limit on property taxes, which was voted on and voted into effect by the voters, so basically the dem legislators are saying screw you voters
Passed so they can supposedly offset the budget deficit while continuing to pay for lazer hair removal of Trans inmates in the state correctional facilities, among other assinine expenditures
i.e. 8.6 mill to the WEA which should be self supporting through their dues, or 7.2 mil to the Cascade Bicycle club, a non profit, also big supporters of the CCL (Climate Commitment Act)

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It often helps to actually know what you are talking about before starting another baseless, ignorant, rant.

No ‘cap’ was removed…it was changed to an increase based on inflation. And the legislature could certainly do that.

NONE of the property taxes you pay, regardless of high they are - or not - go towards ‘lazer(sic) hair removal of trans inmates’ or either of the other 2 organizations you list.

Get out your property tax statement and look at it. Other than 2 categories of ‘State School’ taxes, and a tiny amount of ‘conservation tax’ (that I believe goes to the DNR for fire protection), ALL of our property taxes go to operate our County and local voter approved districts; Schools, Fire District, Aero -Methow, hospitals, cemeteries, etc.

I am sure, however, that won’t stop you from making up things to whine about.

And again….I’m impressed by the irony - and hypocrisy - of someone who enjoyed employment paid by taxes, who gets - I’m betting - most of their current income from public funds…..AND enjoys very nice Health Care, 75+% paid for by public funds.

But, please, DO go on continuing to piss and moan about ‘big gubmint’ and how they dont need any tax money….
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Tristen that is good for those that qualify, but I surmise that the number that do qualify is not that many compared to the number of property owners that this will adversely strain their budgets

Senior and disabled persons can get a property tax exemption if they earn less than 40K in their household. Veterans 100% disabled income is not counted towards the 40K dollars

From my understanding it will be based on area growth and buget needs for any "supposed intrastructure funding needs," so these housing developments being proposed are probably going to have a significant impact.
Also additional taxes can be assessed by the local municipalities and counties without voter approval.
Moving down valley might not even be enough to escape this idiocy, probably a move out of state is only way. Or load several box cars going to the train station

If they would not base the assessment on comparable sales, and future sales, that is what would help reduce property taxes. It's a scam the county, not ours alone, has going. Taking the cap off is not good either.
How to combat this? A Tim Eyman type of resolution? Won't ever happen. I know a woman here in the Valley, that because her property was assessed at an outrageous rate, that she sold and moved down Valley, where prices are a little bit better.
We are punish-ed!

Well it passed so if you were shocked at the last property tax increase, you ain't seen nothin yet " the state Democrat Legislature just passed a bill removing the cap on the limit on property taxes, which was voted on and voted into effect by the voters, so basically the dem legislators are saying screw you voters
Passed so they can supposedly offset the budget deficit while continuing to pay for lazer hair removal of Trans inmates in the state correctional facilities, among other assinine expenditures
i.e. 8.6 mill to the WEA which should be self supporting through their dues, or 7.2 mil to the Cascade Bicycle club, a non profit, also big supporters of the CCL (Climate Commitment Act)

Seems the state Dems ignore what the people say can we say tyical of the party.

Democratic state lawmakers are aiming to erase a voter-approved limit on annual property tax hikes as a way to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for public schools and local governments.

The state House Finance Committee held a hearing Tuesday on House Bill 1334 which would repeal a 1% cap on annual growth for property tax collections and give the state and local governments the ability to levy hikes up to 3%.

To be blunt this kind of sucks. On the other hand, to be more blunt, the increase in my homeowner's insurance in 2025 is approximately what the property taxes in 2025 are for my home.

mister_coffee wrote: Wed Feb 12, 2025 9:14 am Let's keep in mind that nobody voted in a property tax increase. Some folks had their assessed property values go up. Which usually makes their taxes go up.

No but how many voted for the increase in School levy and as pointed out above that was a significant jump.
WA, dems also have a bill before the Legislature that municipalities will be able to increase taxes without voter approval

Correction. I meant the wealth tax would not affect most of us.

Let's keep in mind that nobody voted in a property tax increase. Some folks had their assessed property values go up. Which usually makes their taxes go up.

What do you think of the wealth tax? That's a tax that would affect most of us, I would think.

Wait til the state dems adds in their increase to property taxes

Good grief... Our taxes increased from $5,540 on 2024 to $6,391 this year!!! Insane...
I support our school system, but $3,300 for 2025???

Voting has consequenses

A lot of us can't get homeowners insurance.

Like I've said, if you can't insure a property you can't sell it because no one will finance it. If you can't sell it arguably the value is zero. So no property taxes.

And they base it on comparable sales and projections of the market! It should be the price you paid or if improvements are made.
It's out of control. I had read that property taxes in Wa. were supposed to go up. Schools will need support now more than ever, if the Dept. of Education is dismantled, but how much more can we pay?

Property in the Methow Valley has dramatically increased in value (both real and assessed) compared to the rest of Okanogan county.

Good grief... Our taxes increased from $5,540 on 2024 to $6,391 this year!!! Insane...
I support our school system, but $3,300 for 2025???
I thought the state was supposed to support a large part of school funding? Not by taxing our property to cover up their other spending projects. Wasn't the lottery also supposed to help?
Don't think I will support schools anymore at this level... at least until something convinces me otherwise.