I haven’t seen Mr. Asher speak about the cost to taxpayers. But maybe I missed out on something. So, I began wondering what the cost to property owners would be to form this “district.”
As far as I can tell, by looking at the law on-line, taxation will be 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. On a $400,000 dollar house, the tax will be another $300 a year on top of what we pay already in taxers. Also, according to what I’ve found on line, a bond measure takes 60 percent to pass whereas a district measure requires only 50 percent. Effectively, the [Kirkland City] Council (of which Mr. Asher is a member) watered down the voice of property owners. One might even consider it a declaration of war on property owners.
Looking at the law, it seems that the district tax is forever, whereas a bond measure is paid off and the tax disappears.
It appears that the increase in property taxes affects all property owners, both businesses and homeowners. Clearly, to cover added taxation, all businesses (including apartments) will have to raise their prices. Kirkland citizens will pay more for products. Curiously, since prices rise on goods, so will the monies collected for state and local taxes also rise.
Personally, I disagree with Mr. Asher when he implies the City Council listens well to Kirkland citizens. As an example, the City Council banned plastic bags in spite of a survey that reported 70 percent of Kirkland citizens against the ban. I kind of wonder who they were serving by their vote?
As for the argument by Mr. Asher that this is “for the good of the kids.” How many times have I heard this emotional appeal when politicians revert, as a last resort, to trying to produce guilt feelings if I don’t vote for the measure? Moreover, If the citizens want kids to be taught to learn how to swim, then let’s build a nice enclosed swimming pool for swimming lessons. Kirkland doesn’t need the extravagant cost of an ARC.
I also wonder, that if the Lake Washington School District isn’t replacing the Juanita pool, then how much will my taxes decrease because of the elimination of pool operating costs.
Elections are around the corner and are the best way to convey satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the ARC taxation and with members of the Kirkland City Council.
Kenn Kullberg, Kirkland
