July 6, 1978 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
©
Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 31 (31 of 34 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
July 6, 1978 |
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader ![]() |
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.