Just Looking For Relief From Taxes

We supporters of the incorporation of Opportunity have been accused of everything short of sexual harassment and who knows, that may yet come.

I just turned 68 and my political ambitions, if I ever had any, are long past. I’m just looking for tax relief and for a say in my community.

Taxes will not increase because of incorporation. Taxes will go down because of incorporation. This is not political posturing. State law mandates that city residents pay less taxes than county residents. What could be clearer?

Our response to “not taking no for an answer” is simple. The incorporation of Opportunity has never been on the ballot, so we have never been told “no.” It’s always been “big government” the people voted down. How do we know the people of Opportunity and Evergreen don’t want “small government” until we have an election? Anyway, Abraham Lincoln would never have run for president if he had taken no for an answer.

I have little patience with people who say, “I don’t want to incorporate because I don’t want things to change.” The only way to avoid unwanted change is to have a way to vote against such changes.

Deer Park doesn’t care if we have no say in the way our community is managed. Neither does Medical Lake, Cheney or the eight other cities in the county. They have votes on the Growth Management Steering Committee and we don’t. We must accept the dictates of these cities and the county regarding urban growth in our area because we have no voice on any county commission or board.

Dennis Scott, director of public works, told me, “If you become a city, we can knock on your door, but we can’t come in without your permission.” Permission: What a wonderful word.

Spokane County has admitted that it takes $10 million in taxes from the Valley, for which it gives no services. Opportunity’s portion of this is approximately $2 million. This is how much we will have left over after we receive our services.

We must remember that we are in control. Regardless of opposition, we citizens of Opportunity can assure control of our own future on Feb. 4.

If we fail, the tentacles of Spokane’s influence will spread, cancer-like, throughout the community until we scarcely recognize it.

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