RSSCampaign to retain sales tax has been quiet
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Little heat or light is being generated over renewal of a Yakima County sales tax increase to fight crime, even though its backers say a defeat would cripple public safety.
The tax, approved by 56 percent of voters in 2004, will expire next year unless voters on Nov. 3 agree to continue paying the three-tenths of cent more for another six years. The tax amounts to 3 cents on a $10 purchase.
A simple majority is necessary to renew the tax.
About 100 people in county agencies and city police departments are paid by the tax revenues, which have totaled about $36 million since 2004.
The campaign in favor of renewal, led by Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin and Prosecutor Jim Hagarty, has raised more than $5,800 and so far spent only about $1,500.
County commissioners agreed on their own time to be the primary fundraisers. They sent out personal letters to 600 people in June asking for donations, said Commissioner Mike Leita.
With mail ballots scheduled to go out Tuesday, the campaign to date has been a low-key affair with brochures, some yard signs and presentations to the faithful -- mayors and city councils -- and to community service organizations up and down the Valley.
One of the struggles the campaign must overcome is the feeling that a recent uptick in gang violence and shootings, coupled with public concern about safety, make renewal of the tax all but a certainty.
Irwin said he has heard that refrain.
"We have heard two things, that we are in tough economic times and that it is a no-brainer, that people will vote for it," he said. "We are not trying to be overconfident. We are going to work at it and make sure we have a good margin."
Support for the measure is coming from community groups. One is the Committee for Safe Yakima Valley Communities, a grassroots nonprofit group -- commonly referred to as CSC -- formed in 2006. The group is working to build coalitions among community groups to combat crime and drugs.
One factor working in favor of renewal is the lack of organized opposition to the measure. But that is no guarantee of success. School bonds and levies around the Yakima Valley have failed even without vocal opposition.
Previous county measures to hike the sales tax in the mid-1990s failed miserably.
Those measures, seeking to raise the sales tax by one-tenth of a cent for criminal justice in the 1996 version and to hire staff to operate all 96 beds in the county's Juvenile Justice Center a year later, attracted 44 percent and 38 percent, respectively, approval by voters.
Since the three-tenths sales tax increase went into effect in 2005, two other tax measures for public safety within the city of Yakima failed.
Most recently, the emergency medical services property-tax levy for the Yakima Fire Department was voted down last year.
And in 2006, city voters rejected a request to ramp up utility taxes on telephone service, electricity and natural gas to hire 22 police officers in a measure known as Proposition 1.
Bruce Smith, editor and publisher of the Yakima Valley Business Times, said he believes the city measures failed, in part, because of a lack of credibility.
The county's sales tax measure, by contrast, clearly outlined where the money would go, he said. In addition, the measure contained an expiration date.
"I think that was the deciding factor in why it passed. It was a matter of accountability that was not there" with the city measures, he said.
The EMS measure had no sunset clause and sought funding for other city services. Proposition 1 proposed adding more new police officers than Smith thought were needed.
Smith, who often advises Republican county officials on political matters, is backing renewal of the tax.
Irwin said he doesn't see a connection between the countywide sales tax measure that has been in effect for five years and the two city measures.
"I think the voters have a heightened awareness of the need for more law enforcement than we now have. What they can do within reason I think they are willing to do," he said.
If the tax isn't renewed, Irwin said he would lose a quarter of his commissioned officers and the sheriff's department would have to focus solely on serious crimes like murder, rape and robbery.
"If we had a large motor vehicle theft ring, we would not have the manpower to investigate it," he said.
A District Court office in Grandview, opened with the sales tax money, would be closed. That would force Lower Valley residents to drive to Yakima for hearings, said Harold Delia, administrative consultant for District and Superior courts.
He pointed to a reduced criminal case backlog as one benefit from the sales tax funding. Should the funding end, the backlog would begin to rise.
"Would the system run? Yes," Delia said. "But there would not be the same level of service."
If the measure fails, the three-tenths tax would still be collected next year, and supporters would have enough time in 2010 to make another run at the ballot.
Supporters are sensitive to not being seen as threatening the voters over the tax issue.
And while confident public safety is a winning issue in Yakima County, the campaign is purchasing airtime on radio stations and newspaper ads -- timed with the mailing of the ballots next week and again, just before ballots must be turned in on Nov. 3.
Voters are being asked to retain the sales tax at its current level -- 8.2 cents in the city of Yakima and 7.9 cents elsewhere in the county.
The tax will bring in more than $8 million this year. The money is being used to pay for sheriff's deputies and city police officers and employees, prosecutors, public defenders, locking up more juveniles, and reducing a backlog of Superior Court cases.
Over its five-year life, the tax has brought in more than $36 million, with 60 percent allocated to the county and 40 percent to the cities on a per-capita basis.
The allocation formula is contained in a law the Legislature approved that allows counties to tap the sales tax for local services.
Major supporters of the campaign include those with a vested interest in retaining the three-tenths tax: Sheriff's deputies and city police officers, judges, the prosecutor and his staff, and county commissioners.
Yakima City Manager Dick Zais also gave $100.
Together, government officials and law enforcement employees have given more than half of the money raised to date.
The largest single contribution has come from the Yakima County Law Enforcement Officers Guild with $1,000. The Yakima Police Patrolman's Association kicked in another $500.
Each of the three county commissioners contributed $100.
"We have been very conscious about being sensitive to the fact we are keeping our office separate from the fundraising activities," Leita said.
Private donors include Horizon Distribution, which gave $250. The firm's chief executive officer is Ken Marble. He will chair CSC next year.
Leona Bouchey of Toppenish, whose son is Commissioner Kevin Bouchey, also donated $250. Other major donors include Yakima physician Kerry Harthcock and his wife, Gayle, an attorney, who each gave $125. Lower Valley farmers Steve and Judy Perrault also each gave $125.
Other $100 donors include Carey Motors, insurance agent David Hargreaves, Magic Metals, Stan Martinkus of Western Materials, Zirkle Fruit Co. of Selah, the Yakima County Republican Central Committee, Mark Peterson of H&H Furniture, the political group Forward Yakima Initiative, and John and Mary Place of Yakima. Mary Place is running for a seat on the Yakima City Council.
* David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.
The YPD union only gave $500? That's a whopping $4 per officer! Ringing endorsement from one of the greatest beneficiaries.
Bottom line, this money wasn't used as promised. The County Commissioners reduced funding to YSO and the Prosecutor after this tax passed last time. A lot of fancy SUV's and administrators have been hired. Some of the money was mishandled. The crime rate has gotten worse since this tax was implemented, it's not working. I won't vote for a program that doesn't solve the problem and doesn't result in a net gain of police officers on the street, actively pursuing criminal activity.
This isn't just 3/10th, it's $40Million being sucked out of the private sector with no results. YHR has never met a tax they don't love.
I echo lobo in several ways on this issue, especially regarding the actions by the county regarding the "robbing Peter to pay Paul" scenario with these funds when they first allowed the sheriff's budget before the tax and promised not to use it to make cuts, then when the tax passed, took that promise back. Suspicious to say the least.
The other reason I think the money is being ill-spent is the fact that our sheriff and entire local justice system seems to be in a "sanctuary" frame of mind when it comes to the alien population here and law enforcement. They refuse to help enforce current immigration law, which the sheriff is sworn to uphold, by PURPOSEFULLY ignoring the immigration status of our alien residents, (notice I didn't say "guest" because they have simply moved in permanently) workers. Even according to senator Patty Murray's own admissions and my research, of all the foreign people in our state, and this country, at least 75% of them are here ILLEGALLY.
By his actions, he is NOT APPLYING THE RULE OF LAW ON AN EQUAL BASIS. I am expected to live by and am held to obey our laws, or I will be arrested and punished accordingly. THE SAME IS NOT TRUE FOR ILLEGAL, CRIMINAL ALIENS HERE, every one of them felons by definition.
You can't convince me that our sheriff is upholding the law when the number of these people is increasing every year, until now. They have finally become a majority demographic in Yakima and surrounding areas. Yes, WE are a minority in our own city. Also, his theory that the local Hispanic population will squeal on their criminal buddies when crimes are perpetrated by the gangs, in exchange for his leniency toward their immigration status, has proven to be a complete fallacy.
In short, he is not upholding the law according to his oath of office. Plus, the County Commissioners went back on their word. Until that changes, or we get a new sheriff who will indeed uphold our laws, I will not support more funds going to them.
Nick: "Even according to senator Patty Murray's own admissions and my research, of all the foreign people in our state, and this country, at least 75% of them are here ILLEGALLY."
I gotta admit Nick, I always chuckle a bit when I read this same statement from you over-and-over again. It's funny how all of the sudden Patty Murray must be speaking the truth when she says something that goes with your beliefs.
By the way, I could care less what Patty Murray and pretty much any other politician has to say most of the time...just to set the record straight.
I'm interested to know though what exactly your own "research" has consisted of when coming to the conclusion that 75 percent of all foreign-born people in this country are illegal? There are some 40 million foreign-born people in the United States, and even if the highest estimates claimed by the most hardcore anti-illegal immigration groups of 20 million are true, that still doesn't add up to 75 perecent does it?
Listen, whatever the real number is, I know it's still a significant amount of people. I just see you post that number on here time-and-time again, and I'm curious as to how you came to that conclusion...other than because Patty Murray told you so.
I'm still trying to see the benefit of this tax. Since this tax was implemented we've seen a significant uptick in gang activity. YPD informed a neighbor that it's normal for a 3 hour wait when 911 is called for a home break in. We pay more and crime and response times get worse?? Maybe by paying less, it'll force law enforcement to work within their means and provide a better service to us citizens. They need to earn the tax!! Also, if law enforcement didn't have such large legal bills protecting their chief, maybe that money could go to actually fighting crime. YPD is their own worst enemy.
I voted yes last time, but don't think that'll happen this time.
I for one am going to vote for it. TK421, if you think by cutting funding is going to improve the response time, then you are way wrong. I keep telling people on here that if you really want to know what YPD Officers do everyday to go on a ride along. I've been on a couple, and let me tell you what, 3 hour waiting time for a burglary in progress is a bunch of dung. Maybe for what officer call a "cold burglary" meaning the suspect went in, and no one knows when someone broke in, then it may take quite awhile for an officer to respond because of other priority calls, but you should go on a ride along TK421 and see for yourself, and then you could make that decision for yourself.
Report ViolationLVR, I will KEEP ON saying it until it sticks. I actually got it from her in a personal email reply to one I sent asking her to be tougher on enforcement of EXISTING immigration laws instead of mucking up the works with new ones. The YHR has a copy of this reply as a result of their same question to me as to my source for a letter to the editor I wrote a year or so ago.
I am encouraged to see that you recognize that it is a repeated message - it means that it is working.
Other statistics from several sources state that there have been from 1.5 to 3.0 million illegals per year, crossing into our border states, for the past 20 years or so, (since Reagan;'s first amnesty, which proved to be an open floodgate invitation to the rest. That makes about 35 plus million and counting, taking attrition into consideration along the way for some. The government has absolutely NO IDEA how many illegals are here, and their ridiculous estimate of 12 million is a way to sandbag us into their propaganda for immigration reform, amnesty, and fast-track citizenship for a bunch of felons.
While you, LVR, get rich with your illegal alien employees, that are subsidized by the taxpayers who are stuck paying for their living expenses after these people send most of their paychecks out of the country, it is really YOU who are the criminals by knowingly employing these people. If they didn't have jobs, they would go home on their own and the rest wouldn't even come here. Hire LEGAL guest workers and all would be fine.
Nick,
What exactly do you think that I do? When have I ever stated that I employ anyone or own a business of any kind? I don't by the way, so I'm not exactly getting "rich" as you state by my "illegal alien employees."
I'm not arguing the fact that existing immigration laws wouldn't work if they were enforced, or that if employers of illegal immigrants were targeted, that most undocumented workers wouldn't self-deport. It's pretty clear that they would. My comment to you was in regard to your 75 percent statement that you post on here as if it were indeed fact.
Your 1.5-3 million annual figure of illegal immigrants is nice and all, but I take it your simply assuming that ALL of them stayed right?
What about the ones that actually got deported? Or the ones that in fact self-deported (probably not many)? Or here's a crazy thought...what about the ones that actually have become US Citizens since coming here?
I agree that the 12 million number is WAY too low as an estimate. I think 20 million is probably more accurate, but if you yourself say that nobody knows for sure how many there are (which I agree), how can you be so sure that 75 percent of all foreign-born people in the country are illegal? Because Patty Murray said so???
I DO recognize the message that you're posting...recognize it as a joke that you’re trying to pass off as fact. It's humorous though, so I'll give that much.
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