Vote On Conservation Tax To Wait Until Fall Earlier Election Would Be Too Costly, County Decides
Spokane County voters will decide in September or November the future of a tax that is used to buy land for conservation.
County Commissioners Phil Harris and Steve Hasson decided Tuesday that this fall is the earliest an advisory election on the conservation futures tax could be held.
A vote any time sooner would be too expensive, they said. A special election this spring or summer would cost the county about $70,000.
The county likely could split the cost of a fall election with other jurisdictions that have measures on the ballot.
Both Harris and Hasson want the public to have a say on the conservation tax, which went on the rolls in 1994 and comes off after 1996.
“It’s their pocketbook. It should be their call,” Hasson said. “That’s my desire on all taxes.”
Commission Chairman Skip Chilberg doesn’t support the advisory vote. He voted with former Commissioner Pat Mummey to approve the tax over Hasson’s objections, and he said it is too important to repeal.
He added that he is willing to take the heat for keeping it on the rolls without an advisory vote.
The tax raises money to buy lands county officials think are worthy of preservation. The money cannot be used to improve land, only to buy it.
It costs residents 6 cents for every $1,000 in assessed value of their property. That means the owner of a $100,000 home pays $6 per year to the conservation fund.
The tax raised more than $786,000 to buy land in 1994. The county used some of the money to purchase an ancient cedar grove near Liberty Lake County Park.
Hasson said Tuesday he would like to repeal the tax immediately - which the board has the power to do - to get it off the 1995 tax rolls.
The commission then could reinstate the levy in 1996 if voters say they want it, he said.
But Harris, whose support Hasson needs to get the vote on the ballot, said no. He said he favors leaving the tax in place until the advisory vote.
If the voters say to cut it this fall, though, Harris said he would do so.
Hasson, who last week suggested the advisory vote, said Tuesday he has received many calls from people who support the tax urging him to keep it in place.
“That’s fine,” said Hasson, who added he’s not against the conservation program. “Those people need to go out and convince their friends and neighbors of the importance of it.”