OLYMPIA — Today, Washingtonians came to Olympia to oppose continued efforts by majority Democrats to eliminate the 1% cap on the annual growth of state and local property taxes. Community members impacted by this proposal shared their personal stories about how this tax increase would affect them.
Citizens pleaded with lawmakers to reject the property tax hike, and said that Senate Bill 5798 would place an unnecessary burden on homeowners, renters, and small business owners across Washington. They described it as a highly regressive tax that would disproportionately harm lower-income families and further undermine efforts to expand affordable housing.
Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, released the following statement in response to the majority’s property tax proposal and citizens’ response to it:
“Last year, the Democrats tried to push a property tax increase that would have allowed property taxes to go up 300 percent. We pushed back on that and they pulled back. But this year they’ve doubled down. They have an even worse idea that would make property taxes go up even higher.
“Instead of a 1% cap, the new proposal would allow it to go up by inflation plus population. That would have meant an increase of more than four percent this year alone. And without any real cap, it could go up as high as inflation can go.
“Today we heard from everyday Washingtonians about how this destructive plan would affect their lives. Some could lose their homes. Some may see their dream of home ownership fade out of reach. Others would see yet another devastating rent increase, or lose their rental altogether.
“The destructive property tax proposal that the Democrats are trying to push through down here in Olympia cannot be allowed to advance.
“We all know that costs across Washington state have gone up, but this is a cost that affects every single Washingtonian, whether you’re a renter or a property owner. It’s going to either raise your rent or perhaps price you out of your home, especially for people who are on limited fixed incomes.
“I’ve seen widows and grandmothers who no longer can afford to live in a house that they grew up in, that they purchased, that they spent a lifetime to obtain.
“This property tax hike plan is bad news for everybody in Washington state. It’s the wrong tax at the wrong time.
“I urge every Washingtonian to reach out to their legislator and make their voice heard on this destructive property tax increase. We can’t allow the House and Senate majorities to price our citizens out of their homes.”
Click here to view video of Sen. Wagoner’s statement on SB 5798.