To Our Elected Commissioners: It is time for our elected BOCC to consider the needs not only of the low income population of Jefferson County but of the approximately 25,000 parcel owners who elected them. Foremost: calling the low income housing shortage in our county an “emergency” is an inappropriate exercise of the BoCC’s discretionary authority. I am appalled that the Commissioners would even consider putting the measure to a vote. A problem that has been years in the making due to economic and demographic circumstances, that has not been otherwise addressed by the Board and County action and, by the very proposal, that would take 7 years to even attempt to correct cannot be called an emergency. Also consider this: to label it as an emergency subjects the County, and therefore, the taxpaying citizens to legal challenges for which we will all pay. Beyond that fundamental problem with the proposal, my purpose is not to dispute the rationale for needing more affordable housing in our county, but to urge the Commissioners to recognize that: 1) the County government has not taken the first steps to alleviate policies, zoning and high development fees that may stand in the way of developing more affordable housing units; 2) the tax paying property owners of Jefferson County are under attack by all government sectors in Washington; 3) instituting another property tax increase only serves to undermine affordable housing, because owners of rental properties will have to pass the additional cost onto renters; 4) by increasing property taxes you are making it harder for the residential property owners of our county, especially those on fixed incomes, to remain in our homes. The Home Opportunity Fund is not the solution. 1) The County Government should first take steps to clear its own development policies, zoning restrictions and fees which stand in the way of developing low income housing.
2) The property tax payers of Jefferson County are under attack by all sectors of Washington government. Consider these new and proposed taxes that have occurred and will continue for years: School District #50 Bond 2016 20 years - $ 1.178 /$1,000 WA State education budget increase 2018 - 0.91 /$1,000 Proposed Home Opportunity Fund 7 Years - 0.36 /$1,000 $ 2.448 /$1,000 Coupled with the significant increase in home values over the past year, a homeowner in a house valued at $300,000 would be paying approximately $734 in NEW property taxes. A housing shortage years in the making should not fall solely on the shoulders of an already stretched segment of your electorate. If the Commissioners are convinced this is a problem they should look for other solutions, including tax breaks for developers and sales taxes. 3) Instituting another property tax increase only serves to undermine affordable housing, because owners of rental properties will have to pass the additional cost onto renters. 4) By increasing property taxes you are making it harder for the residential property owners of our county, especially those on fixed incomes, to remain in their homes. Have you not noticed that the supporters of the Home Opportunity Fund are all non-profits who pay no taxes? In summary, it is irresponsible of the Commissioners to approve a resolution to move this proposal to a vote by the citizens of Jefferson County. Furthermore, this is certainly NOT the year to add another levy to our escalating property tax bill when property owners have not even seen the effect of other new taxes and increased property values. As elected Commissioners, you should do your job for your constituents and say NO to putting this proposal on the November ballot. At present you are just throwing Mr. Morley’s proposal “over the fence” to let the voters decide without thoroughly considering alternatives and the consequences of what such a levy would mean to ALL the citizens of Jefferson County. Georgette Semick 31 N Rhododendron Drive Port Townsend, WA 98368 Phone: 360-531-2737
15 Comments
John Ammeter
9/19/2017 08:11:05 am
I'm a 5 generation Jefferson County resident. My GG Grandfather homesteaded in Chimacum Valley and built a large farm raising dairy cattle. My Great Grandfather homesteaded at the end of the Van Trojen Road on 160 acres. My two brothers and I still own the farm while one brother lives on it. We believe in supporting Jefferson County but.... If anyone wants to build or develop land in Jefferson County there are so many obstacles thrown into the planning and building process that people are discouraged to the point they simply won't get a permit or move out of the County to more friendly pastures.
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George Sickel
9/20/2017 08:51:19 am
Great comment. I could have said it better. Just more of the liberal thinking that taxing in the only solution rather than tackling the root causes.
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Steve Crosby
9/20/2017 11:17:35 am
An interesting thing about our county, every year more people die in Jefferson County than are born. If no one moved here the housing shortage would turn into a surplus in 6 months.
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Rachelle (Burt) Merle
9/23/2017 10:02:28 pm
Excellent question.
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Larry Dennison
9/24/2017 08:20:00 pm
The folks who need affordable housing are not all "newcomers". Many of those who can't find affordable housing are long-time residents trapped by the combination of low minimum wage jobs without benefits and who can barely afford the basics.
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9/24/2017 11:45:01 pm
Larry you are so close to understanding this. On the Homes Now website the superintendent of school lectures us that we need more people to move here with school age children.
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Larry Dennison
9/25/2017 08:09:37 pm
Interesting response, Steve. Too bad it misses the point entirely. This is not about school teachers, the WEA, or the number of school enrollments. Is it possible that we have been losing younger population because of the lack of affordable places to live? Is it possible that Seniors living on Social Security might be among those who need help? I appreciate the work and thought you have put into your response, but really what this comes down to is whether we are willing to pay $10 a month (Avg) to help young families trying to live on minimum wage, and seniors who can't afford to own a home but must rent in our overheated housing and rental market. If you don't care about those people, don't vote for it. But don't dig up red herrings like this being pushed by teachers, who you say make four times the the county median wage. You are not making your case for poor retirees and the working poor. Those are the folks who would benefit from this levy. In fact we all benefit from a community that is diverse, with young working families, middle class workers, and senior citizens of all economic means.
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Steve Crosby
9/25/2017 10:18:49 pm
Only a handful of the poor retirees will benefit. 1250 of our neighbors are already living in low income housing. No benefit for them.
Lois venarchick
9/25/2017 08:44:00 am
When all other avenues to encourage builders to develop low income housing are exhausted, when short term vacation rentals are regulated, all form of local government waste are found and eliminated as much as possible; then, and only then, should we be discussing a tax increase. Tax increases are not the first reach to answer. So says this woman, a 40 year resident soon to be living not just on my low income but a fixed income, who worries ALOT about bring taxed right out of her home and property after a lifetime of hard work.
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Ron Gregory
9/25/2017 03:51:52 pm
This proposed property tax will effect the county homeowners who are on the margins. HUD estimates there are about 3,000 home owning households that would be negatively impacted by this tax.
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Larry Dennison
9/27/2017 04:40:52 am
Prop 1 a non-partisan political issue. The Jefferson County Democrats have not been asked to endorse, nor have they endorsed this ballot measure. Why? Because it is a non-partisan measure and the issue of helping our neighbors in need is not partisan. If someone choses to try and make it so I have to question their true motives.
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Craig Durgan
9/28/2017 08:09:45 pm
Prop 1 is simply the acknowledgement by the BOCC that they have instituted bad policy and regulations. This has been going on for nearly 20 years. It is no surprise that there is a shortage of affordable housing. There have been no apartment building build. The only option at this time is to vote NO on Prop 1 and then proceed to remove the current BOCC from office.
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Lauri Chambers
10/12/2017 12:05:52 am
Could someone tell me how to find out who is funding the Prop 1 campaign and who is funding the No on Prop 1 campaign? Thank you.
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Steve Crosby
10/12/2017 09:15:14 am
Prop 1 is funded by the Bullitt Family fortune and a Washington DC Lawyer. They also received a valuable in kind gift from Progressive Strategies NW.
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Larry Dennison
10/12/2017 11:58:46 pm
Steve, your suggestion that the Yes campaign is funded by the Bullitt Family fortune is laughable, but a Washington DC lawyer? Where do you guys come up with this crazy propaganda? Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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