Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Update on effort to change property tax law
This is an update on my earlier letter on HB 1334, the bill that would raise the maximum annual property tax increase from 1% to 3% and make it easier to reach the 3% maximum. The House Finance Committee met on February 11, 2025. The discussion on HB 1334 starts at 17:24 and the video can be found here: House Finance – TVW
Representative Gerry Pollet, the prime sponsor of HB 1334, was the only person testifying before the committee. He represents the 46th District in Seattle.
Mr. Pollet made the following assertions:
- “School districts are deep, deep, deep underwater”
- “Being forced to plan for massive educator layoffs”
- “Close schools”
Mr. Pollet has also used words like “kneecapping” and “choking off” when discussing the 1% limit. And, he’s been quoted as saying the argument that increasing the limit to 3% will increase the cost of housing is “laughable.”
Does Representative Pollett recognize that the biggest driver of school closings is declining enrollment? Does he acknowledge that our schools’ performance statistics are dismal? See Report Card – Washington State Report Card.
Mr. Pollet also asserts HB 1334 would raise “…nearly $90M next year for our schools” and “…hundreds of millions more…” if the 3% limit is approved. His numbers might be understated. See this: Fiscal Note Package 72718
He makes this remarkable statement: “And 3% growth factor doesn’t mean that our residential property taxes go up by 3%, it means the total growth in the jurisdiction goes up by 3%” and follows with “Often people’s individual taxes will be less.” Figure that one out!
Representative Jacobson from Puyallup asked Mr. Pollet a great question: “Could we accomplish the same laudable goals of funding our schools as our paramount duty and funding our local jurisdictions by just changing the percentage that the state allows the localities to retain rather than increase the size of the pool?” Great question! Mr. Pollet’s response:
“Representative, the fundamental source of funding for common schools, public school system, is the property tax and letting local jurisdictions keep more money doesn’t fund your schools and we would have a horrible, horrible inequity if we said to local districts, district A, you get to raise everything with our local property tax or keep some other source of revenue from the state sales tax because the revenues very widely, my district provides funding for districts across the state we’re a net exporter of tax revenue by a great amount.”
What? Representative Jacobson asked a very good question and Representative Pollett had no answer. If the share of property taxes that goes to local jurisdictions is increased then school funding could be increased. Her key point is this could be done without increasing the cost of homeownership.
Mr. Pollet apparently is not aware of or failed to mention:
- New construction is not limited by the 1% cap
- Remodels are not limited by the 1% cap
- Voters can approve increases over the 1% (Mr. Pollet doesn’t appear to trust the voters)
- As I mentioned earlier, population growth (under HB 1334 this factor would, by itself, justify an increase in property taxes) can be a good thing for taxpayer supported entities because of new construction and most likely an increase in sales taxes as well—not to mention the increase in property values
- Overall school performance tests have shown our public schools are not getting the job done—more money after bad?
Mr. Pollett’s arguments are the same that were made in 2001 when I-747 was on the ballot. The 1% limit would choke off local spending. According to the Washington Policy Center, county spending from 2001 to 2006, all under the 1% limit, grew anywhere from 6% to 90%. King County, Mr. Pollett’s home, rose by more than 48%! Does this sound like local spending has been choked off or kneecapped?
The Washington State Office of Financial Management has stated:
- Washington government per capita spending on higher education has consistently been above the U.S. average.
- In 2000, Washington ranked 15th among the states in state and local government K-12 education spending per capita. In fiscal year 2022, Washington was ranked 12th.
The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction shows that average Administrative and Teacher salaries have increased 75% and 84%, respectively, from 2007 to 2024 (all under the 1% limit). oes this sound like Washington K-12 spending has been choked off? Administrative staffing grew by 25% and certificated teachers by 16%. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d like to see greater growth in teachers and less growth in administrative staffing. Put more of our money into the classroom where it’s most effective. See https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2024-02/allpersonnelsummaryreport2023-24.pdf (page 18)
I follow this simple rule: If the proponents don’t tell me the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I’m voting against it. HB 1334 is not being properly explained to the Finance Committee nor to the citizens who will be paying the bill if HB 1334 passes.
Craig McLaughlin
Fox Island