Letters to the Editor

Letter to the editor: PenMet’s levy lid lift and love for the rate

When it comes to their levy lid lift, PenMet is consistently and primarily talking about the levy rates.  I recently attended one of their levy information sessions, and I asked them for a commitment to disclose the dollar amounts involved as well.  They would not commit to doing that.  Is that decision indicative of PenMet giving the voters ALL the information they need to cast a knowledgeable vote on the Levy Lid Lift?

What they should be talking about, as I tried to explain in my earlier Letter to the Editor, is what’s important to taxpayers and that’s not the rate, but the actual dollars they are being asked to pay.  If someone takes a dollar out of my wallet because he or she has a right to do so, I’m not concerned about that dollar being X% of something.  I’m worried about having a dollar taken away from me.

Graphs might help.  The first graph shows the decline in rates that PenMet is focusing on in its campaign to get the levy lid lift approved.

They are consistently saying that the decline in the rate is making it impossible to maintain their current level of service, and that they will no longer be able to continue to improve and expand their park system.

The second graph tells the true and far more relevant story as it shows the dollars PenMet has received from us the taxpayers since 2017.  The Actual Levy numbers for 2017 to 2020 are taken from PenMet’s audited financials with 2020 being the most recent audited statements.  The Actual Levy Numbers for 2021-2023 are taken from PenMet’s annual budgets.

As you can see in the first graph, the “rate” has certainly dropped.  As you can also see, the dollar amounts shown in the second graph that PenMet has received since 2017 has seen a steady and large increase.  You can see the big jump in 2018, the first year of the levy lid lift approved in 2017.  You can also see the impact of the 6% limit (versus the normal 1%) being applied for the balance of the period.  2023’s expected levy income for PenMet is going to be 77% higher than it was in 2017.  Has your household income increased by 77% since 2017?

The important thing to take away from these graphs is that the impact of the proposed levy lid lift will be almost identical to what’s shown in the graphs, but the time period will be 2023 to 2029.  There will be a sharp 30% increase in 2024 just like what’s shown for 2018 in the second graph, and there will be ongoing increases through 2029 just like the second graph shows until the amount collected could be as high as another 77% over what PenMet is receiving this year.  The math is the same.  Do you expect your household income to increase another 77% by 2029?

In closing, I’d like share one more point with you.  First, I challenged Steve Nixon, PenMet Board President, to a debate on the Levy Lid Lift PenMet is asking for.  Steve told me that was not going to happen.  Second, both Ally Bujacich, Executive Director for PenMet and main spokesperson on this issue, and I were invited to do co-presentations for and against the Levy Lid Lift in front of the Gig Harbor Republican Club last Saturday.  I readily accepted as did Ally, but Ally, for some reason, respectfully cancelled her appearance.  I saw Ally at a PenMet Information Forum on the Levy Lid Lift Wednesday of last week and told her I was looking forward to our presentations that coming Saturday morning.  On Thursday, Ally contacted the Republican Club and told them she had to cancel.  I wonder why?  I will continue to extend my offer debate anyone from PenMet at any time and any place.  Make what you want of their continuing refusal to accept my offer.

Craig McLaughlin

Fox Island

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