Press Editorial
October 13, 2009
By Staff
Don’t think twice; vote no on I-1033
Initiative 1033 is a ballot question voters will struggle with. On one hand, they doubt the spending practices of government, but on the other hand they like the services government provides.Audits such as the one done on King County government this year point out the ineptitude of government-run agencies and programs. It’s just the kind of pause that makes taxpayers want their money back, believing government will be quick to get its house in order if we take the money away.
I-1033 would certainly take the money away — from local cities, fire departments, the county and state, with trickle-down impacts to our schools, roads, state parks, children’s health care, Medicaid for the disabled, our prison programs and more. Could government give us the service we’ve come to expect with less money?
With the huge loss of tax revenues at all levels in 2010, we’ll soon find out. We don’t believe it will be a pretty picture. People like their park lawns manicured, their crosswalks striped bright every year, flowering baskets to decorate the street lamps.
They like knowing their city taxes provide a home for the food bank, keep senior rates low for using the city pool, keep the playground equipment at the parks safe. Home and business owners feel good about police and fire protection, the 911 system and the good response time provided by Medic One.
I-1033 puts many of those services — big and small — in jeopardy, especially when government is already making deep cuts from the impact of the recession. I-1033 is a bad idea in this economy for sure, and will still be a bad idea — at least until this state overhauls its entire tax system.
The tax initiative would limit tax revenues above inflation and a population growth. That leaves no excess for building a reserve fund for budget years like the one coming up. The city of Issaquah will likely be calling on those very reserves, in spite of deep staff reductions. Firefighters have already taken a pay cut.
Your ballot comes this week. Make your first vote a resounding no on I-1033.
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As an individual, I am asking all Washington voters to join me in taking a stand against Tim Eyman’s latest initiative, 1033.
I-1033 would lock in this year’s recession-level budgets for the state, counties, and cities, and use them as baselines for all future spending. A similar measure in Colorado did so much damage to their health care system, education, and economy that voters suspended it in 2005.
Businesses, health care advocates, education associations and labor unions have come together to oppose I-1033. It is opposed by Democrats, Republicans, and Independents from all across Washington State.
I-1033 would result in more crowded classrooms and fewer teachers for our children. It would also slash funding for nursing homes, in-home care and make the health care crisis more severe for vulnerable adults.
We don’t have to let that happen. Please vote NO on I-1033.
Jeanette Holt
Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Advisory Board