July 09, 2007
Transparency in Taxation
The King County Council today unanimously approved the Transparency in Taxation ordinance:
Under the legislation approved by the Council, starting in April 2008 the County Treasurer will be required to mail courtesy tax breakdowns summaries to property owners who do not currently receive property tax statements. The summaries will provide a detailed breakdown of the taxes and fees levied on their property, including those approved by voters.
A common-sense and important step towards more transparency in government. Kudos to Reagan Dunn for introducing the measure and to all of the Councilmembers for enacting it.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 09, 2007
03:58 PM | Email This
1. Dunn might as well be a tax and spend Liberal. He is backing almost all of the massive tax hikes Sims and gang want this November, taking tens of thousands of dollars out of each individual in this state.
Showing me how much they are taking for what offers little help. Their greed for more is neverending.
2. Wouldn't something like this encourage folks to vote no for too many levys? I personally know how my property taxes are affected by increased taxes, and I sure as hell want to make sure my neighbors do. Frankly, I'm surprised the Democrats capitulated so easily on this when they were stonewalling it in the beginning. Well done, Dunn.
3. Kudos to Reagan Dunn. This is far too long in being realized. It's really a shame that folks haven't gotten such statements in the past.
4. It's amusing to see people trying to make a partisan issue out of this. It's a straightforward non-partisan, good-government issue: educating people about what their government is doing. To the extent it has an impact, the impact will be that people will be more willing to pay taxes because they understand what their taxes are used for. They already know how much they're paying; now they'll know why. And of course the other impact is a small administrative cost to the county.
5. Bruce, your lighthearted approach is so amusing.
If people are more informed about where their tax dollar is going, they will be more happily willing to be taxed? I do not see the connection. My opinion is exactly opposite to yours. If people are more informed about where their tax dollar is going, they will be more likely to look more closely at those tax funded operations, and hopefully demand more accountability, or at the very least become more involved in the system. There are many people who are in fact over taxed, and there is a limit to what can come from their pockets. These people are no doubt not feeling quite as cheerful as you are feeling about the tax dollars. Eventually, there will have to be cuts in services, and in programs.
Cindy
6. Dunn's bill is a goo one. WE should all be treated as owners of the government and et an annual report on what is spent and what it achieves.
Whether this leads to more or less programs is up fo0r debate. Hopefully it leads to less bad programs and more goo programs. Those who think all programs are bad, or all are good, are predisposed and will continue to think what you thin k regardless of actual facts.