SpokaneGOP.com

Here's how the property and sales tax rates stack up among local cities. For property taxes, the  amount is what's charged per $1,000 of assessed value, rounded to the nearest penny. Property tax rates vary in most cities. What is shown is the predominant rate. Unincorporated Snohomish County's
rate is averaged. Sales tax numbers are effective from April 1 to June 30, 2010. Combined sales tax includes the 6.5% state rate, the local rate, and Regional Transit Authority (RTA) rate.

      City Property tax                Sales tax
Spokane      $11.7732                  8.70%
Arlington      $9.54                        8.60%
Bothell         $8.92                        9.50%
Brier            $8.42                        9.50%
Darrington   $10.76                      8.60%
Edmonds     $8.76                        9.50%
Everett       $10.34                        9.20%
Gold Bar     $9.80                        8.60%
Granite Falls $11.08                     8.60%
Index           $7.53                        8.60%
Lake Stevens $11.11                    8.60%
Lynnwood    $8.78                       9.50%
Marysville    $10.55                      8.60%
Mill Creek   $9.70                        9.50%
Monroe       $10.54                      8.60%
Mountlake Terrace $8.66             9.50%
Mukilteo     $8.46                        9.50%
Snohomish  $10.47                      8.60%
Stanwood    $8.05                       8.60%
Sultan          $9.80                       8.60%
Woodway   $8.80                       9.50%
Unincorporated $10.20               8.60%
Sources: county assessor, Dept. of Revenue

Spokane   2009        2010

Totals:    11.2252    11.7732

From the Research Mom

Immediate action is required for these issues.  We have only hours to stop major changes to increase taxes and changes to the Washington uniform parentage act.  The tax bills listed below are relatively easy to understand so the middle section will be explaining the concerns of the new surrogacy laws.
 
ACTION STEPS:
1 – Get informed
2 – Share information – get others involved
3 – Call hotline, call legislators, email legislators, and/or visit their offices.
 
Be sure to put vote yes/no and the bill number at the top of the email/fax and beginning of the call.  Letters are too slow at this point – we only have hours to affect change.
 
ESSHB 2793 - Clarifying and expanding the rights and obligations of state registered domestic partners and other couples related to parentage.
 
This law is creating new regulations for surrogacy arrangements in order to make it easier for unmarried couples and domestic partners to have children.  The law also re-defines words such as mother/father and egg/sperm into gender neutral terms.  Current protections for the surrogate mother will be removed and more power will be given to the intended parents.
 
A major concern is that the law does not appear to have medical protection for the surrogate mother and baby to be free from HIV and other diseases which could be transmitted through the sperm. 
 
Liberal compensation for arrangements to purchase technologically made babies sets a pathway for a future of unknown consequences with little ethical safeguards in the bill.
 
Call your SENATORS to vote no on HB 2793 or at least provide guidance within the bill to be in total compliance with “FDA regulations on Third Party Reproduction”.  This compliance includes regulations on compensation, evaluation of health of donors, and other protections for the mother and child.
 
For more information on understanding the future created by this law please read about “third party reproduction”, fertility procedures, and NY Times articles on dangers of surrogacy arrangements.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_party_reproduction
http://www.fertility-docs.com/surrogates.phtml
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/us/13surrogacy.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/health/21brod.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=surrogacy&st=cse
 
It’s time to be a “tick mark” and make your calls / email for these bills.
 
IMPORTANT TAX BILLS
Call your Senator and two House Representatives
 
SB 6250 - Providing fiscal reform (by instituting a State Income Tax)
This bill will create the Washington State Income Tax system.
 
SB 6143 - Relating to Revenue and taxation
The bill will change the regulations and tax rates for Sales & Use Tax and Business & Occupation Tax.  Gives the power to the Department of Revenue to expand definitions on "what is a taxable transaction" and re-defining intangible income to include leases, gifts, etc.
 
HB 3191 - Modifying Washington State excise tax laws
A massive tax bill to expand excise tax laws, add taxes to such things as bottled water and candy, increase revenue from "out of state" transactions, and expand the responsibilities of the Dept of Revenue.
 
A list of potential tax bills that have not bee “activated” yet but could be a problem can be found at ResearchMom.  Click on the title of the bill to view the “Bill Summary” page. Feel free to email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions you have.
 
OLYMPIA HOTLINE    1-800-562-6000
 
Find your legislator:  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
 
Legislators Phone:       http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rosters/Members.aspx
 
Bill Information:       http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
 
3/7/2010

Research Mom
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Friends and Neighbors,

Although our winter has been relatively warm this year, the political climate is cool, with a significant wind chill factor. The many unfunded mandates, imposed upon cities by Federal and State law and enforced by the Dept. of Ecology, would turn most taxpayers cold. Two of these mandates remain especially onerous: 1) reducing the phosphorous levels in the effluent coming from the wastewater treatment plant and going into the Spokane River to 43 parts per BILLION, and 2) implementing the Stormwater Management Plan. Together, these requirements will cost Spokane taxpayers approximately $800 million by 2017!

I haven't talked to anyone who wants to have a polluted river, but perhaps we should ask whose “best available science” is being used to determine the mandated standards. Also, especially in these tough economic times, is the timeline for implementation reasonable? How will cities - or more appropriately you, the taxpayer - pay to accomplish these standards? To answer the last question, Senator Ed Murphy and Representative Timm Ormsby are co-sponsoring the 2010 Clean Water Act. If this law is enacted it will raise taxes on thousands of petroleum-based products from .7 of a percent to a full 2%. Since 1987 this money has been set aside to pay for cleaning up toxic sites such as Kendall Yards and other pollution related projects. Unfortunately, last year the State swept millions of dollars from this fund to help plug the gap in the general fund. If the 2010 Clean Water Act passes, 70% of the additional revenues collected during the first three years have been slated once more to be siphoned off into the general fund to plug the ever-growing deficit! In addition, analysts suggest we may all soon pay 3-6 cents more per gallon at the pump. Will that cost be worth it, if it results in cleaner water? You be the judge.

After the revenue is split among 100 cities, Spokane could receive less than $10 million toward their $800 million bill. If you love research or just wish to express an opinion, I would appreciate any input you can offer in answering these three questions: 1. Are environmental standards reasonable and sustainable? 2. What is a fair and sustainable funding source? 3. What are reasonable timelines for improvements?

Another issue I am grappling with is whether Spokane citizens should be taxed to raise money for more after-school programs, helping child abuse victims, and reducing our dropout rates. Aren’t these critical goals already a part of existing government programs, i.e. education, child welfare, and justice? Will funding new programs solve the problem? The Children’s Investment Fund Initiative would place an additional $.35 for every $1,000 of assessed value onto your property tax bill to generate $5 million dollars annually. I am cautious about this additional tax, but perhaps would agree to it, if the funds did not land in a new government program, growing government jobs (with salaries and benefits), and missing the true goals of strengthening marriages and encouraging parents to care for their children.

The long-term answer is in strengthening the family. Indiana Representative Mike Pence pin-pointed the root problem recently: “…to reverse American decline we should recognize that our present crises is not merely economic and political, but moral in nature. We must win back America for the fundamental traditional values of the American people: The sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage." What are your thoughts?

Finally, I would ask for your prayers – for wisdom and discernment, for endurance, good health, and joy in the journey in spite of the political isolation.