SubscribeINITIATIVESLimiting to 1% growth, unless permission is given to go higher. Highest cigarette taxes in the country. I don't see the problem (other than the smokers are getting screwed again), I am guessing the idea of what public services people really want will find it's level with what they are willing to pay. I approve. There is a town in Illinois that has been doing much the same for the last 5 years, and they are doing well, if sightly spartan.
Initiative 747, sponsored by Tim Eyman and his "Permanent Offense"
organization, would limit property tax growth to 1 percent a year for each
taxing district, unless voters approve a larger levy. Current law allows taxes
to rise with inflation, or up to 6 percent a year if local officials approve it by
a supermajority.
Foes, using the image of the firefighter in their television ads and fliers, say
the initiative would hamstring local governments and lead to budget cuts.
Eyman says the initiative merely limits the tax growth and that local leaders
can always take larger requests to the ballot. He says governments can cut
fat, use reserves and reprioritize their spending.
Initiative 773 would boost the cigarette tax by 60 cents a pack and increase other tobacco taxes to
the highest level in the country. Backers say that would discourage people, particularly youth, from
taking up the habit. Sponsors would dedicate the extra revenue, about $100 million a year, to pay for
anti-tobacco programs and to add up to 50,000 people to the state's subsidized health care program.
Foes say the tax is confiscatory and would hurt the poor the most. They also say the tobacco tax is a
declining source of revenue and might leave the Legislature holding the bag for expensive new health
costs.
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Commencing Taxation Battle, Standard Form, Third Variation.
posted by jammer at 11:07 AM on November 8, 2001