Are You For or Against the Two Thirds Requirement for Tax Increases?
Are you for or against the Pierce County Council’s proposed charter amendment that would require a two thirds affirmative vote to increase taxes?
Title: An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Proposing an Amendment to the Pierce County Charter to Require at Least a Two Thirds Affirmative Vote of the County Council to Approve All New Councilmanic Tax Measures and Increases Thereto; Requesting the Auditor to Submit this Amendment to the Voters at the November 2012 General Election; and Requesting the Prosecuting Attorney to Draft an Appropriate Ballot Title.
Whatever your answer, there may be an opportunity for you to get involved, make yourself heard. The County Council is soliciting members of the public to apply for positions on the committees that will write the “for” and “against” statement in the voters’ pamphlet.
The proposal will come to the voters on November 6th.
The two committees will have up to three members. If interested, submit letters of interest by July 2, 2012. Letters should be sent to Denise Johnson, Clerk of the Council, 930 Tacoma Ave. S, Room 1046, Tacoma, WA 98402 or djohnso@co.pierce.wa.us.
Selection should be made at a public hearing on July 10th.
While completely unofficial, we’d love to hear your comments here as well.
More information on the proposed amendment at the Pierce County website
Filed under: Legislation, Elsewhere, Pierce County, Elections
4 comments
T talus June 21, 2012
Against. I like representative democracy. Besides, supermajority requirements effectively allow minority rule; it’s ironic that voters, when they pass these things, effectively express their distrust of themselves and those they choose to elect (and can unelect)).
T tacoma_1 June 21, 2012
It should be called what it actually is: 1/3rd plus 1 rules. Not to many people would actually support if it was named correctly.
F fredo June 21, 2012
I’m OK with majority rules on taxation matters subject to the following stipulation. Every tax increase should have a sunset provision under which it expires at a particular date. Our generation should not be dictating tax rates for future generations of taxpayers/citizens. Let each generation chart it’s own course.
M Michael Clifford June 27, 2012
Oh Course Against… This instills minority rule over the majority!