logo
Washington lawmakers debate raising property taxes to bring in more money

Washington lawmakers debate raising property taxes to bring in more money

Yahoo10-04-2025

The Brief
Lawmakers are negotiating a balanced budget, and Democrats are looking to increase property taxes by removing the 1% revenue growth limit.
Senate Bill 5798 aims to adjust property tax revenue growth based on inflation and population changes, with exemptions for seniors and people with disabilities, while House Democrats propose a 3% cap without exemptions.
Republicans argue that higher property taxes will hinder home affordability, while Democrats emphasize the need to fund schools and public safety, noting that voter-approved levies are the main driver of tax increases.
OLYMPIA, Wash. - As lawmakers continue to craft a balanced two-year budget before the 2025 legislative session wraps up at the end of the month, part of those negotiations has revolved around increasing property tax revenues.
"This is the wrong answer for Washington, it's the wrong answer for homeowners, it's the wrong answer for renters," Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, told reporters at a press event around property tax proposals Wednesday.
Republicans have come out against many of the tax proposals from Democrats in control of the legislature, especially Senate Bill 5798.
By the numbers
The legislation would get rid of the 1% revenue growth limit for regular property taxes, and allow that revenue to grow based on a formula that accounts for inflation and population change. The proposal also includes property tax exemptions for seniors and people with disabilities.
House Democrats have a similar proposal, without the tax exemption but with revenue growth capped at 3%.
Democratic leaders have argued property tax revenues to fund schools and public safety have not kept up with increasing costs.
"We need to make sure that we don't have a structural problem in our laws that prevents our government from being successful at its basic functions," said Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle.
Pedersen said his caucus is "very sensitive" to making sure people are not priced out of their homes. He also argued the fixed-rate property taxes from the state, counties and cities covered by the growth limit and proposed increase are a "relatively small" portion of a homeowner's overall tax bill.
"The vast majority of what people experience as property tax increases comes from voter-approved levies," he said.
The other side
But Republicans fear increased property taxes would make it harder for people to buy or rent a home, stay in that home and for housing to be constructed.
"They cannot say that they support affordability in our state if they also support regressive taxes that decrease affordability for people all across our state," said Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup.
What they're saying
Mason County homeowner Marie Gofigan, invited to speak by Senate Republicans, said she is already struggling with making increased property tax payments because the value of her home is increasing.
"After three years of hard work, dipping into my retirement and selling my mother's jewelry, I was finally able to get caught up," she said. "However, now, I need to make the property taxes again due this month. Now, Senate Bill 5798 is being presented and will again put me and others like me on the brink of losing our houses."
While Governor Ferguson held a press conference last week criticizing Democratic wealth tax proposals, he would not say much on property taxes and other revenue ideas.
"Those are conversations we're going to have, there's a lot of negotiations to go on," he told reporters last Tuesday. "But I'm just not going to get into specific proposals right now."
Democratic leaders told reporters they are in ongoing discussions with the governor's office and would be releasing more revenue options that are under consideration within the next week.
Albert James is a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University.
The Source
Information in this story comes from original reporting by Murrow News Fellow Albert James.
Seattle driver plummets off multi-story parking garage, 77-year-old rescued
Thousands attend Seattle 'Hands Off!' rally against Trump, Elon Musk
Tacoma police shoot, kill carjacking suspect Saturday afternoon
Sue Bird named to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Trump tariffs live updates: Global markets plunge as countries scramble to respond
USPS mail delivery changes begin: Here's what to know
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fetterman Calls California Protests ‘Anarchy' as He Criticizes Democrats
Fetterman Calls California Protests ‘Anarchy' as He Criticizes Democrats

New York Times

time29 minutes ago

  • New York Times

Fetterman Calls California Protests ‘Anarchy' as He Criticizes Democrats

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania warned fellow Democrats that they could face a political backlash if they were seen as failing to sufficiently condemn acts of violence by protesters in Southern California, which local officials have said were limited. On Monday, he posted a photo on social media of a car engulfed in flames and a masked, shirtless person waving a Mexican flag. He suggested that Democrats — many of whom have in fact criticized acts of destruction or violence — should go further in denouncing unruly demonstrations. 'This is anarchy and true chaos,' he wrote. 'My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.' Local officials in California have described the violence as limited, under control and exacerbated by President Trump's decision to federalize the National Guard and deploy troops over the governor's objection. 'I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration — but this is not that,' Mr. Fetterman wrote. 'This is anarchy and true chaos.' Mr. Fetterman, elected in 2022, has become one of the Democrats whom Republicans love to quote as he has broken with some of his party's orthodoxies. He checked himself into a hospital for depression early in his first year in office, and his mental health has recently been the subject of both concern and scrutiny. Democrats on Capitol Hill tried to shrug off his latest comments on Tuesday. 'Everyone is entitled to their opinion,' said Representative Yvette D. Clarke of New York, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Some praise appeared to arrive, however, from Elon Musk, the owner of the social media site X, where Mr. Fetterman made his comment. Mr. Musk replied to the post with an American flag emoji.

What the 'Big, Beautiful' tax bill means for municipal bonds
What the 'Big, Beautiful' tax bill means for municipal bonds

Yahoo

time34 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

What the 'Big, Beautiful' tax bill means for municipal bonds

JPMorgan raised its forecast for municipal bond sales in 2025 to $560 billion as US lawmakers deliberate over President Trump's "big, beautiful" tax and spending bill in the Senate. Goldman Sachs Asset Management co-head of municipal fixed income Sylvia Yeh weighs in on what policy changes to the US tax code could mean for municipal bond investors, as well as valuation catalysts in comparison to Treasury yields (^TYX, ^TNX, ^FVX). Goldman Sachs manages several municipal bond ETFs (GMUB, GCAL, GMNY, GUMI). To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data

Meet the candidates in the runoff for the Board of Supervisors District 1 seat
Meet the candidates in the runoff for the Board of Supervisors District 1 seat

Yahoo

time39 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Meet the candidates in the runoff for the Board of Supervisors District 1 seat

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Two candidates remain in the special election race for the vacant seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors representing South County, and voting is already underway. The runoff for the empty District 1 seat, which was set after no candidate received enough votes to win outright earlier this year, pits two South Bay mayors against each other: Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre and Chula Vista Mayor John McCann. Both are vying to serve the remainder of the term former Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas abruptly vacated in the weeks after winning re-election. D1 Special Election: What to know | The Candidates | How to vote | More Stories Moreover, the race is going to be decisive in shaping majority control of the technically nonpartisan body the next few years. Republicans have the opportunity with McCann to take back the reins just four years after Democrats became the majority party at the county. Ballots were distributed to registered voters in District 1 last Monday, June 3 with early voting beginning via mail and drop-box shortly after. In-person vote centers will begin opening up on Saturday, June 21, ahead of the final day to vote on Tuesday, July 1. For those looking for more information on the race for a seat on the Board of Supervisors, here is an introduction to both remaining candidates. The Board of Supervisors has a wide array of responsibilities in presiding over the county, spanning executive, legislative and judicial powers. Its primary duty is to set policies for most county departments, which largely encompass public health and safety, and unincorporated areas. The board can also direct litigation on behalf of the county, appoint people to certain roles and commissions, and approve contracts for services. Similarly to other legislative offices, voting is based on districts, meaning residents are only able to vote for the candidate hoping to represent their area. To find out which district you live in, the county has a map showing the supervisorial district boundaries available on its website. Here are the candidates, listed in alphabetical order by last name: Paloma Aguirre is the current mayor of Imperial Beach. Since assuming the role in 2022, the Democrat's public profile as grown significantly, specifically for her stalwart advocacy on the Tijuana River sewage crisis. A first-generation Mexican American, Aguirre was born in San Francisco before her family returned to Mexico. In 2001, she moved back to the U.S. to attend University of San Diego, receiving a B.A. in Psychology. She also holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. After graduating, she worked as a community organizer in south San Diego, focusing on issues tied to immigration, foreclosure and predatory lending. She also worked with the marine conservation nonprofit, WILDCOAST, before her election to Imperial Beach City Council. These issues that defined her pre-politics career are at the center of her campaign for higher office on the Board of Supervisors. Her priorities include addressing the sewage crisis, preventing rent gouging, bringing down homelessness, and 'holding the line on utility costs.' During a community forum earlier this year, Aguirre says she wants to work to ensure the county is carrying its weight on these issues, especially as it relates to the Tijuana River sewage crisis and homelessness. 'It's time we get our fair share from the county,' she said. According to her campaign, Aguirre has been endorsed by a number of major actors in local politics like the San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, the Sierra Club, Equality California and a number of local union chapters. A coalition of several of these unions — like SEIU and the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO —have set up an independent political action committee in support of her campaign. County records show more than $590,000 has been raised by the PAC for outside spending, largely on mailers. Aguirre has also received a number of endorsements from elected officials, including: Senator Adam Schiff, Reps. Juan Vargas and Sara Jacobs, State Senator Steve Padilla, National City Mayor Ron Morrison, and San Diego County Supervisors Monica Montgomery Steppe and Terra Lawson Remer. Chula Vista City Councilmember Carolina Chavez, one of the other Democrats who ran for the District 1 seat, similarly endorsed her. John McCann is the current mayor of Chula Vista. The self-identified moderate Republican has been a fixture of Chula Vista local politics for more than two decades, having held various roles over the years since he first became an elected official in 2002. Born and raised in Chula Vista, McCann holds a bachelor's and master's in economics from San Diego State University. Prior to entering politics, McCann served in the U.S. Navy, deploying during the Iraq War. He also worked for the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. In a conversation with KUSI earlier this year, McCann touted his record throughout his tenure in Chula Vista city governance, describing his approach to issues like public safety, neighborhood improvements, traffic decongestion and small business growth as 'common sense.' Specifically, he points to the city's reduction in crime under changes to the police department like its new drone system and doubling of officer patrols, successes of its Homeless Outreach Team, and work to eventually remove the toll on State Route 125. Should be be elected to the District 1 seat, McCann says he would bring this pragmatic approach to the county, pursuing policies that expand wraparound services for unhoused people, tackle immigration, accelerate construction of for-sale, market-rate homes in unincorporated areas and steward its resources in a fiscally responsible way. 'We need to be able to look at what are important to us, preserve those, and look at other things that are 'nice to haves' and look at how we can cut those instead,' McCann said. McCann has been endorsed by a number of groups like the San Diego County Republican Party, Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Club of San Diego and the San Diego Association of Realtors, according to his campaign. He has also received the endorsement of a number of former and current elected officials, including Greg Cox, who held District 1 seat before Vargas; Supervisors Jim Desmond and Joel Anderson; County Assessor Jordan Marks; and State Senator Brian Jones, among others. As far as outside spending goes, two independent political action committees have been set up to expressly support McCann's candidacy, county campaign finance records show. Collectively, these committees have raised over $456,500 with donations mostly coming from organizations in and around real estate spaces, like the Southern California Housing Association and Building Industry Association of San Diego County, as well as the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and California Alliance of Family Owned Businesses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store