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Muni League Opposes Public Safety Sales Tax

2010 Election, Politics   September 23, 2010 at 11:34 am Erica C. Barnett

The King County Municipal League announced this morning that it will oppose a proposed 0.2 percent increase in the King County sales tax. The tax, which is supported by King County Executive Dow Constantine and the King County Council’s five Democrats, would help preserve criminal justice programs (the sheriff’s department, the King County prosecutor’s office) and human services programs (domestic violence prevention, sexual-assault survivor programs).

Calling the timing of the proposal “imprudent,” the Muni League said in a statement, “We agree that times are tough for King County but we are not convinced that King County government has exhausted all other revenue-generating and expense-cutting options and we are disappointed that voters are being asked to approve a sales tax to fund popular and essential public safety services.”

Earlier this month, the Seattle P-I’s editorial board also endorsed a “no” vote on the county sales tax, calling the sales tax a “regressive” tax that “preserves critical services … by putting a further disproportionate burden on the backs of low-income residents.”




  • Melissa Westbrook

    I was at a 43rd Dems meeting the other night where the pros and cons of this were presented. It is quite a dilemma. I absolutely do not like how regressive and hurtful this is to poor people. I was startled to hear how much of the country budget goes towards courts, sheriff’s office, etc. And, we need to keep up programs that try to help youth from reoffending.

    Something’s gotta give and the question is what? There are people from every direction asking for money. Do we vote all these ballot measures in? Are the people asking for this money accountable for how it is spent and is what we are spending it on working?

    I’m still not sure about this one in particular

  • Melissa Westbrook

    I was at a 43rd Dems meeting the other night where the pros and cons of this were presented. It is quite a dilemma. I absolutely do not like how regressive and hurtful this is to poor people. I was startled to hear how much of the country budget goes towards courts, sheriff’s office, etc. And, we need to keep up programs that try to help youth from reoffending.

    Something’s gotta give and the question is what? There are people from every direction asking for money. Do we vote all these ballot measures in? Are the people asking for this money accountable for how it is spent and is what we are spending it on working?

    I’m still not sure about this one in particular

  • say no to war

    the war on drugs is a wasteful governmental program designed to ensure a vast army of bureacrats (a/k/a cops, prosecutors, judges bailiffs prison gruads, prison cafeteria workers prison health providers etc.) have something to do. The harm caused by illegalization is not just the cost of the phony war, but the fact it ensures those providing drugs are violent criminals bent on maintaining their huge profits and they don’t face competition from legit or nonviolent providers. Another cost is this black market of providers create safety problems ranging from harmful quality of the drugs, to shooting witnesses against them. The end result is more harm from drugs, not less harm. so if we can’t be honest about that, a huge wasteful portion of our “law enforcement” budget, we can’t have an honest discussion about the county budget.

    Obviously we can no longer afford wasteful government programs like this that have unintended and harmful consequences and btw don’t do anything to actually lower drug usage or its effects. Because if it worked, it would be working. No, the purpose of this program is to ensure that it NEVER works thus keeping the military industrial complex, oops, I mean the black market drug dealer-law enforcement complex, in place, and thriving.

    And that’s why they want to stick poor people with another regressive tax.

  • http://www.joeszilagyi.com/ Joe Szilagyi

    Definition of IMPRUDENT
    : not prudent : lacking discretion, wisdom, or good judgment

    Sounds like they’re describing the law enforcement priorities. Hey Dow, how much money would be saved by stopping marijuana sales/possession enforcement?

  • Bill B in the Central District

    i tend to agree, but there is the fanciful “war on drugs” and the real issue on our streets…
    http://centraldistrictnews.com/2010/09/22/six-men-charged-with-felonies-in-operation-safe-union

  • gnossos

    Duh. Those “issues” wouldn’t exist if drugs were legal and regulated. The point is ending street sales and consumption.

  • westside

    it is already the lowest priority. I believe in legalization as well, but this is not a significant cost driver for county government.

  • Johns

    it’s not just the drugs, though. You’re talking about identity theft and plenty of other things as well, all of which go away. I’m not saying this tax proposal is the answer, but be clear on the consequences if it fails.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr Baker

    Speaking of high, the muni league is on crack if they think the county has other revenue streams. I guess they threw that in there as not point the finger at the unions.

  • Anonymous

    Agreed. Anyone who thinks stopping all drug prosecutions would solve the budget problem doesn’t realize how much they’ve already cut back on it and how many other crimes they’d basically have to stop prosecuting to be solvent.

  • Bill B in the Central District

    personally i don’t think legalizing crack cocaine is a good idea – do you?

  • no to war

    yes, I do. illegalizing it doesn’t work, raises the price, ensures violence and lawlessness, and turn a chemical addiciton problem into a crime, violence and governmental cost problem. while it’s not good for you and you shouldn’t do it, turning it into a felony only creates a huge black market and ensuing criminal gangs which would not exist if it were legal.

  • Kcreform

    King County Council Candidate Diana Toledo was the first to bring to light how the effects of the new tax would effect the poor and elderly. Here is a video clip of Diana Toledo addressing the subject during one of the candidate forums. Vote Diana Toledo! Responsible Reform in King County Government! Please watch the video and share with your friends!!!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAbAitgtLTw

  • gnossos

    More or less what say no to war said.

    I would only add that I believe the total harm caused by legal cocaine would be orders of magnitude less than the total harm caused by illegal cocaine (and for all other currently illegal drugs as well). There is substantial empirical evidence to back this view up.

  • http://www.smashedbottle.com/ sebastian

    The less money the stormtroopers have, the better life the rest of us have.

  • gnossos

    It’s not just prosecutions. There is a ton of money tied up in arrests and bookings. And we still arrest a lot of drug users. The amount of criminal justice/law enforcement resources that are tied up directly in drugs are substantial.