Our View: Worry-free vote

Washington voters whose knees start to knock when asked to amend the state Constitution have nothing to fear when they come across House Joint Resolution 4223 on this year’s ballot.

The measure, which requires voter approval to take effect, was placed on the ballot when both the House and Senate supported it without an opposing vote in either chamber.

In essence, it is a step needed to keep up with inflation in terms of personal property tax exemptions. Most Washingtonians are unacquainted with personal property taxes, because they never pay them. They are more familiar with real property taxes – those assessed on their homes – but personal property taxes are assessed on the other things you own. Except …

Household goods are exempt, so you don’t pay them on your dishes, or your towels, or your home computer. Business inventories – the goods on the shelf – are exempt, too. But a business’s office supplies and equipment – including, say, a computer identical to the untaxed one you have at home – are assessed. As is a farmer’s equipment.

From 1935 until 1989, $300 worth of such personal property was exempt from the tax. After more than half a century, though, state voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to raise that exemption to $3,000.

Now it’s time for another adjustment. HJR 4223 will authorize the Legislature to raise the exemption to $15,000. Not only did not a single legislator oppose the amendment when the Legislature was dealing with it last winter, not a single citizen, lobbyist or other witness testified in opposition when hearings were held.

The cost to the state treasury is minimal. It would remove an estimated $82 million worth of property from the rolls statewide. It would reduce state revenues by $97,000 in 2008, the first year it would be felt, and $186,000 in 2009.

This is a straightforward measure to compensate for inflationary trends. Voters should approve it with no worries.