June 29, 2010 in City

Children’s fund proponents turn in signatures

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Advocates of a property tax that would raise money for early-child learning, abuse prevention, treatment and other programs have submitted more than 12,600 signatures in support of placing the levy on the November ballot.

Supporters of the initiative, which is called the Spokane Children’s Investment Fund Levy for Families and Youth, collected 771 sheets of signatures that they turned in to the city clerk’s office on Thursday.

The issue needs 8,334 valid signatures to earn a public vote.

The Spokane City Council will vote on July 12 if it will place the idea on the ballot, ask the county election’s office to validate signatures first or declare it illegal.

The council usually orders a review by the election’s office when asked to consider an initiative.

The tax, which would raise $5 million annually, would cost the owner of a $100,000 property $35 a year.

Four comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  Orange on June 29 at 3:17 p.m.

  NO

• 

  lewis8457 on June 29 at 4:12 p.m.

  instead of attacking the property owners make this a sales tax increase on big money items like cars and such that way the people that can afford it (government workers) are the ones taxed. Many of us are on fixed incomes and more property tax is difficult to come up with. It is becoming too expensive to own property in Spokane.

• 

  Shylock13 on June 29 at 6:39 p.m.

  Throwing money at a problem seldom helps. The Washington Constitution places education as the state’s top priority. Courts have ruled that the state has not met its obligations. I am opposed to the proposed legislation. It is simply another way to pass the buck (literally) to the taxpayers, who are already way over taxed!

• 

  Dazzeetrader11 on June 29 at 10:35 p.m.

  NO. I was at a meeting this past Winter when this came up. It was Community Assembly as I recall. District 81 is already receiving money to do this. It’s just another way to grab money and tuck it into property taxes. It’s just not necessary. Nice idea…no evidence that it’s effective. No data whatsoever.