If New City Is Formed, Expect Higher Taxes, Fewer Services

Anti-incorporation

It is important to vote against Valley incorporation at this time. New and increased taxes and reduced law enforcement, which will jeopardize public safety, are two of dozens of reasons.

Compared to counties, cities cost more to operate, spend more tax revenue per capita, and the money comes from city residents. Cities, by law, have more authority to tax citizens and they use it.

Proponents want you to believe that the new city will spend only $31 million per year, while similar sized cities spend upwards of $100 million. Proponents also compare us to Federal Way, Wash., which has quadrupled expenditures in less than five years to $58.6 million.

When asked how the numbers will work, proponents invite us to look at the Federal Way budget. I wonder if they read pages 64 and 65, “The General Fund cannot sustain the contract increases that have been experienced over the past several years, without either an additional revenue source or expenditure cutbacks.”

In addition, the report states that with the current increases in costs, “the general fund will experience an operating deficit of $33,438 beginning in the year 1997, growing to $1.5 million by the year 2000 and eventually increasing to $5.4 million by 2005.”

Do you believe that the new city of Spokane Valley will lower our taxes? I don’t think so.

Another issue which concerns me is a reduction in law enforcement.

If the proponents are successful in persuading the voters, this new city will lose coverage by the Washington State Patrol. It is my understanding that once we become a city, the State Patrol will no longer patrol our major arterials and be responsible for traffic accidents and citations.

As the new city contracts for police protection, the Sheriff’s Department will need to hire additional people and buy new vehicles if the current level of protection is to be maintained. It is important to me to maintain a safe level of police protection and, thanks to the proponents, we will all need to be prepared for higher taxes to get it.

Many Spokane Valley individuals are as frustrated with the current system of government as I am, but it is obvious that a new city and additional layer of government is not the answer. What this new city will mean to everyone is higher taxes and most likely a reduction in services.

Because the proponents need only a simple majority to pass this proposal, it is imperative that all who oppose this new city get out and vote NO on incorporation May 16.

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