(Alexandria, VA) – With less than two weeks remaining before Washington citizens vote on I-1033, the Lower Property Taxes Initiative, opponents are spending lots of money and spreading misinformation to defeat the measure. Recognizing the high stakes of this debate, the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU) has launched a Ballot Committee and website, Taxpayersfor1033.com, to help educate Washingtonians on the benefits of passing I-1033. NTU has 10,000 members in Washington State.
According to Taxpayers for I-1033 Committee Director Joshua Culling, implementing I-1033 in Washington is needed now more than ever. He noted that Washingtonians have funded a burdensome and bloated government financed largely by high sales and property taxes for far too long. Spending under Governor Christine Gregoire skyrocketed 31 percent during her first term, leading to this year's $9 billion budget deficit, the largest ever in the history of Washington State. "Not another day should go by where Washingtonians are forced to sit in the passenger seat allowing the state government to drive recklessly toward a fiscal catastrophe," Culling said. "It's time for taxpayers to say, 'we've had enough' and pass I-1033."
Washington's I-1033 would limit the allowable growth in government revenue to the annual rates of inflation plus population growth. Taxpayers would receive a refund in the form of a reduction in property taxes if an excess of revenue occurs. The measure would also encourage accumulation of rainy day funds, and generally restore the stable fiscal environment that once existed after passage of the popular Initiative 601. Washingtonians can visit Taxpayersfor1033.com to learn more about how they can help in the fight to pass I-1033. Depending upon resources, the Taxpayers for I-1033 Committee will be supplementing its volunteer and earned media efforts with other initiatives such as paid advertising and production of pro-1033 campaign materials.
"Every state should be as fortunate as Washington is to have the opportunity to put prudent restraints on out-of-control taxes," Culling concluded. "By adding their state to the ranks of those that have prospered thanks to sensible limits on the future size of government, Washington voters could be an inspiration to taxpayers everywhere."
NTU is a nonpartisan, nonprofit citizen organization founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom at all levels. Note: For more information on NTU, visit www.ntu.org or Taxpayersfor1033.com.
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