bonbam t1_ja3rd2c wrote on February 26, 2023 at 5:03 PM

Reply to comment by aztechunter in WA auctions off more ‘old’ forest in $2.8 million sale by Plonsky2

The city of Vancouver just narrowly passed a tax levee to benefit our public schools. It worked out to a whole whopping $1.99/1k assessed on property taxes (which was replacing a $2.01 levee, so we actually gained money) and still people were acting like they were being forced to become homeless.

Never assume people would rather pay a negligible amount in taxes; even if you tell them if $1 for the whole year they will act like you're trying to be some authoritarian dictator. Absolutely exhausting.

scough t1_ja42vgd wrote on February 26, 2023 at 6:18 PM

I always vote in favor of these levees, but I can also understand why people are sick of the feeling that they're being nickel and dimed. WA literally has the most regressive tax system in the US that disproportionately affects those with lower incomes, while the rich get to skate by with around a 2% effective tax rate. WA very heavily favors corporations and the rich.

[deleted] t1_ja445h9 wrote on February 26, 2023 at 6:26 PM

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bonbam t1_ja4prfo wrote on February 26, 2023 at 8:49 PM

I wasn't saying the approved levee was negligible, that was in reference to the .50 cent tax the person i was replying to said. Could have made myself clearer.

I agree that 1k is not negligible; i also think we are super lucky to not pay state income tax and that the state needs to make up the money somewhere. I'd rather pay this property tax increase in that framing, which is how i tend to view these things.

Librekrieger t1_ja4gu2f wrote on February 26, 2023 at 7:49 PM

That measly $2 is actually $1000 per year for any house within 10 miles of where I live. Ask me to pay $1000 this year for something, and it better be something I really support. It isn't a "negligible amount".

I don't automatically vote to give $1k a year to "education". Nobody should. The measure must clearly state what the money is going to be used for and it better be a good reason. Otherwise I have other things I could use that $1k for.