Tax advisory issues added to November ballot

OLYMPIA — Washington state voters will have a chance to formally tell state lawmakers what they think about some taxes in the state, officials said Monday. The state attorney general’s office said Washington will have two non-binding advisory votes related to taxes on the November ballot. Those votes stem from a provision under Initiative 960, which passed in 2007. It gives the public the chance to weigh in on tax increases. “At least the voters are going to have some voice in the process,” said Tim Eyman, who pushed the 2007 initiative. “I wish they hadn’t raised taxes, so they wouldn’t need these advisory votes.” Lawmakers didn’t approve any broad tax increases this year. One of the measures that lawmakers passed eliminated a mortgage-related tax deduction for large financial businesses. Another bill extends an existing tax on wholesale petroleum products. As the first advisory votes under the initiative, the issues will be named Tax Advisory Proposition 1 and Tax Advisory Proposition 2 on the ballot. The attorney general will prepare descriptions of each. Eyman thinks the advisory votes will make lawmakers think twice before voting to raise taxes.