Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

"Whitman County voters back tax increase"

From today’s Lewiston Tribune:
COLFAX -- With 23 of 56 precincts reporting as of press time Tuesday night, a proposition calling for an increase in sales taxes to help pay for emergency services equipment in Whitman County appeared headed for approval.

A total of 1,941 voters (nearly 58 percent) were favoring the measure as of the latest tally. A majority of at least 2,523 yes votes were needed for passage.

The measure called for a one-tenth of 1 percent increase in sales taxes that was expected to bring in about $300,000 annually to finance, design, equip, operate, maintain, remodel, repair and improve existing emergency communications system.
The Vote Washington web site shows 2,932 votes “Yes” (61.05%) and 1,870 votes “No” (38.94%) with all 49 precincts reporting. The turnout was a measly 17%.

It amazes me how the local media doesn’t tie this story together with the corridor development story. Our sales tax has now gone up .2% in the last seven months alone. If Whitman County had the sales and property tax revenue from the new Hawkins Companies development, there would have been no need to raise the taxes.

And now Moscow is trying to stop that development that will ease our tax burden? Every citizen of Whitman County, including Pullman, should be mad as hell.

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