Today's Seattle Times had a useful op-ed column that contained a detailed breakdown of the property tax burden faced by the median city homeowner. (Unfortunately, the column by Paul Guppy of the Washington Policy Center does not seem to be available online at this writing). Here is an excerpt:
Property Tax on Median-Valued Seattle Home of $315,000It would also be interesting to break down that "Current Expense Levy" and see where that goes. A good chunk goes to service the "Libraries for All" debt, for example.Taxing District Tax in 2004
State ............................................................... $868
King County
Regular Levy ..................................... $341
AFIS Special Levy ............................. $16
County Bonds (6) ............................... $60
Conservation Special Levy ................. $19
Parks Special Levy ............................. $15
Seattle School District
Operations and Maintenance ............... $398
Construction Levy ............................... $345
Port of Seattle .................................................. $80
Emergency Medical ......................................... $75
City of Seattle
Current Expense Levy ......................... $682
Low Income Housing Special Levy .... $32
Gov’t. Owned Bonds ........................... $99
Low Income Housing Lid Lift ............. $14
Families and Education Special Levy... $11
Seattle Center Special Levy ................. $30
Parks for All Special Levy ................... $94
Fire Special Levy ................................. $94
Total .................................................................. $3,273
In addition to the property tax, citizens pay a number of other taxes. The city collects a 8.8% sales tax on most purchases. For restaurant meals and hotel and motel rooms the sales tax is 9.3%. The Seattle Monorail Project collects an annual tax of 1.4% on the state-assessed value (not the fair market value) of private automobiles, light trucks, heavy trucks, motor homes, commercial trailers, personal trailers, taxicabs and antique cars. State and federal government vehicles are exempt. Sound Transit collects a similar 0.3% annual car tax in parts of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, as well as receiving part of sales tax revenues.
The amount given above for the Families and Education Levy (only $11!) is somewhat confusing. The expiring levy front-loaded the collection of the tax to its earlier years. The new levy proposal would cost this $315,000 homeowner approximately $60 a year for the next seven years.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 25, 2004 10:26 AM | Email ThisAnd yet..> The King County libraries are on the ballot this September and I'm trying to figure out how to vote for it. if it IS, after all, just replacing an existing levy and only about the price of a book over a year. I use the library a LOT. And, argh. I hate voting yes on money when so MANY don't use it properly to begin with. So I'm torn.
Posted by: S Schreffler on August 26, 2004 05:52 AM