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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
July 6, 1978     Shelton Mason County Journal
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July 6, 1978
 
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IHOpp ¢om to t t proper00y tax elief e es ou r far more than the the limitation, the state levy for 1 cglsl tturc "second thoughts" Hopp game toYBelfair last week "At least it wouid give a 1979 in many counties would about its plans to phase out same two-to-one margin that carried Califomia's successful Proposition 13. Hoppe described the initiative as a "first step towards a reasonable and rational method" of limiting the property taxes collected by the state. "It's my firm belief that the same limitations imposed on the local taxing districts should just as well apply to Big Daddy in Olympia before things get further out of hand." Hoppe says that the "main inspiration" for the initiative came from the "frightening" increase in the state school fund over the past five years. In 1973 the school fund just exceeded $40 million. In 1978, the amount has now topped $250 million - an increase of 525 percent. Harley Hoppe, King County assessor, explains to members of the Mason County Taxpayers Association just how his property tax initiative will help curb "the Big Daddy of 'em all in Olympia." He spoke at the Belfair Elementary School last week to get the measure's petitions rolling in the North Mason area. For comparison, Hoppe cited the figures for the combined revenues for other taxing districts in the stat.e. In 1973 these funds totalled $634 million. In 1978 they reached $752 million - an increase of 18 percent. Although Hoppe did not know the figures for Mason County, he said that 97 percent of the total increase in state property tax revenues from King County over the past five years have gone to the state school levy. "And if nothing's done, the state school fund's going to keep climbing and climbing." But, Hoppe says, "Something's definitely going to be done. People are fed up. California's only fired the first shot in the taxpayers' revolt. The real question is whether or not it's going to be something reasonable. "And I tell you this, the legislators in Olympia are already worried. "Two years ago you could have walked into the state capitol, started talking tax limitation and your words would have fallen on deaf ears. "Now just wait till the next legislative session. You're going to see so many tax reform bills introduced it'll make your head swim." Hoppe says he knows attitudes are rapidly changing in Olympia. "For the first time in my 20 years of calling for some forms of tax limitation, my ideas are beginning to pick up support." Last week State Revenue to drum up local support for the tax-cutting Initiative 358 he's launched. Director Charles Hodde announced that both he and Governor Dixy Lee Ray support the initiative. "If something reasonable and effective  isn't done to limit property taxes, some unreasonable restraints are sure to come," says Hodde. Hodde says he also supports the proposed freeze on the homes of the retired which would apply to "shacks and mansions alike," but he pointed out that the rich would benefit In his speech before the Mason County Taxpayers Association, Hoppe outlined the basic provisions of the initiative. First, the measure would extend the state's 106 percent limit to all property taxes, including those levied for schools by the state school fund. The limit, which currently applies to cities, counties and ,|other junior taxing districts, ]keeps the revenues that the i]districts can collect from increased property tax valuations | tt.o six percent of the highest of '|" he previous three years. Second, the measure would place a freeze on the property tax evaluations for retired Persons. This freeze would be applied to property owners who receive any form of public or private Pension or who exceed 62 years | of age. The freeze would go into ]effect on January 1, 1979 for :: those who already qhalify. t t To appear on the fall ballot ne initiative must collect more t han 123,000 signatures by 5 p.m. tomorrow evening. t. HOppe admitted that the lmitiative campaign got started "a t bit late," but he says he's ]Confident the needed signatures Will be collected in time and cited the success of the gasoline tax iniativ. , . In the local area, the Mason OUnty TaxpayersAssociation as been busy distributing the .|Petitions throughout businesses !|this Week. Tomorrow afternoon, 'l a representative from the :|SSociation will deliver petitions :i|rom the North Mason area to, :]eattle so they can, in turn, be Itaa ken to Olympia before the luea(lline. • • O l | nee on the ballot, Hoppe predicts that the measure would receive voter approval by the [ ow tide " d00scove es message to people that something is being done." Hoppe explained that the first initiative he drafted called for the property evaluation freeze to be extended to all property owners "across the board," but he dropped the initiative when the State County Assessors and Treasurers Executive Committee informed him the measure would probably be ruled unconstitutional. He then started the proceeding for the second initiative which accounts for the last-minute effort to place it on the ballot. "I figured it was pointless to go to all the work to get an initiative passed only to have it struck down by the courts. Then we'd be back to zero again." Unlike California, voters in Washington cannot change the state constitution through an initiative because of what Hoppe called "a deliberate constitutional blockade." But he explained that the freeze for retired persons can be retained because a constitutional amendment passed in 1969 already provides for tax relief when it comes to the retired. Hoppe estimates t'hat limiting the state property tax revenue to the six percent annual increase will reduce the individual taxpayer's "contribution" to the state by approximately 20 percent. Totalled throughout the state, estimates for savings by property owners reach $25 million. But Hoppe termed this figure conservative. Hoppe also said that without exceed the total property tax levy for all other units of government. "What we're really talking about are theoretical savings. You won't actually have the money right in your hand, but then again you won't be paying it out either. "In other words, you may not actually see the benefits from the measure, but you'll certainly feel them." Hoppe concedes that passage of the initiative might give the special school levies and cause them to abandon their school funding schedule. But he also contends that the effects of the measure "need not be considered so drastic." If the legislators start talking about a "revenue crunch," says Hoppe, "it'll be up to the voters to assure that they don't needlessly penalize the schools. "After all, we're not talking about a freeze on tax revenues, but simply a limitation on their increase." Wild ride leaves injured pedestrian Robert Wetren, 57, Union, suffered a dislocated shoulder and lacerations to the knees when he was struck by the vehicle of Bemice Obery, 73, of Union, while he was working beside the South Shore Road two miles west of Twanoh State Park on June 29, 4 p.m. According to the Washington State Patrol, Obery was traveling west on Highway 106 when she ran off the shoulder to the right, lost control, swerved across the road and struck Wetren. She then swerved back across the road again and sideswiped a travel trailer owned by W.R. Wager, Union. Finally, she crossed back over the road once more and ended up in the ditch. Wetren was taken by the Belfair ambulance to Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton, treated and released. Obery was treated for a laceration to her hand at the scene. Obery's '68 Dodge suffered an estimated $1,000 damage, while the trailer received $400 damage. NORTH SHORE CRUNCH Lisa Riger, 19, Belfair, escaped injuries when her '64 Dodge Dart was struck by the '72 Impala driven by William Hagler, 56, Seattle, as she was entering North Shore Road from a private drive four miles west of Belfair on July 2, 5:05 p.m. Hagler also escaped injuries, but his car sustained an estimated $350 damage. Riger's vehicle received $200 damage. Thu rsday, July 6;1978 .... Section of the SheJion:Mas0n County:Journal Usty relic |Ock. ' il uncovered by the receding tide beside the Allyn Sculptured driftwood Bay. Shannon Blood displays one of her "little friends." marks clam-digging flats on North Comprehensive plan meetings set; local policies announced Starting next week the Mason County Planning Commission will meet with residents in sub-area sessions throughout the county to discuss the drafting of the county's new comprehensive plan. In North Mason the first meeting will be on Tuesday, July 25, 7:30 p.m., at the Belfair Firehall. Other sub-area meetings will cover the South Mason, North Shelton and Olympic-Skokomish localities. These meetings will begin on July 12, 13 and 20, respectively. According to the planning commission, the meeting will provide discussion of the new comprehensive plan between local residents and members of the commission. Local sub-area concerns will be emphasized. The commission also says it plans to explain its role in the county's planning procedure. Over the past several months committees comprised of local residents have met eight times to discuss their sub-areas' concems to help draft the goals and policy section of the new comprehensive plan. All interested residents are encouraged to attend whether or not they participated in the earlier sub-area meetings. Following the earlier meetings by the sub-area committees, the county planning office compiled their work and drafted a 20-pae document Fellow siblings Shannon, Hillary and Mark Blood pursue some of the low-tide wildlife found on the shoreline in Allyn. setting out a preliminary list of Addition goals and policies the general goals and policies for were isolated by the North the county. Copies of the list are Mason sub-area committee for its available from the planning area. These include the office, following: I. Environmental Quality and Land Use. Land Policies: • Mason County should require appropriate hazard mitigation in areas subject to natural hazards. • Land Use decisions should take into account the effects of those decisions on adjacent land, air, and water quality. Water Policies: • Mason County should undertake a program to identify streams requiring rehabilitation due to prior disruption of natural characteristics such as spawning beds or groundwater recharge areas, • Mason County should recognize Hood Canal as an unique body of water and special efforts should be made to protect and improve the growth of marine life in Hood Canal. • Remaining undeveloped waterfront should be retained in a natural state whenever feasible, with consideration given for locating a reasonable number of public water access sites throughout the countY to allow for water-based recreation, II. Natural Resources. Overall Policies: • Mason County should coordinate its efforts with those of other agencies responsible for natural resource management. • Mason County's natural resource base should be maintained and strengthened as a solid economic factor which retains the county's rural character and preserves open space and wildlife i habitat. • Mason County should develop and maintain an inventory of natural resource information and should establish standards for various intensities of development based upon natural resource information and upon other planning considerations. Forestry Policies: • Huckleberry and salal brush and other minor marketable i forest products should be recognized as dependent on the county's unique climate and soil characteristics and should be protected as valuable resources; Aquaculture, Fish Spawning, and Waterfowl Goals: • The economic value of fish and shellfish production should be recognized and high priority should be given to the protection and improvement of water quality in the county's bays and inlets. Minerals Goals: • Economically significant mineral deposits, including sand, gravel, and peat, should be managed as non-renewable resouri:es. Wildlife Policies: • Mason County should identify and strive to protect the habitat requirements of species on the U.S. Department of Interior's Endangered and Threatened Species List present in Mason County to help maintain the natural system balance. • Mason County should consider habitat requirements of wildlife species in the development review process and consider the impact of any new development on habitat areas. Historical Preservation Goal: • Mason County should preserve and protect sites of special historical or archeological significance.