May 15th, 2004
Alternative Initiative to I-864 filed with Secretary of State
A revenue neutral Property Tax Homestead Exemption is real property tax reform, not another corporate tax giveway as proposed in Eyman's Initiative 864!

Contact: Steve Zemke
206-366-0811
stevezemke@msn.com

Seattle, WA—Initiative 319 - an Initiative to the Washington State Legislature - has been filed to provide positive tax reform to help lower and middle income families who are hit the hardest by rising property taxes. Unlike Eyman's Initiative 864 it does not give tax breaks to large corporations. It is revenue neutral so as not to reduce overall monies needed by local government for providing services and local jobs to carry out those services as Eyman's measure. It would exempt from taxation on one's primary residence a value equal to 20% of the local county's median property tax value. Initiative 319 is real property tax reform that would help those who need it the most.

The deadline for collecting signatures is the end of December. A decision to print up the initiative will not occur until after the current signatrure gathering efforts to put measures on the November ballot is completed, which is July 2, 2004.

The initiative is based on HB 3076, which was introduced in the last legislative session. People interested in supporting and helping in this effort are urged to contact:

Steve Zemke,
2131 N 132nd St,
Seattle, WA 98133,
206-366-0811,
stevezemke@msn.com.

HB 3076 was supported and introduced as a bill in the legislature by TaxSanity.org, Taxpayers for Washington's Future and Permanent Defense.

Initiative 319

Ballot Title
Initiative Measure No. 319 concerns property tax homestead exemptions. This measure would allow property owners to file claims obtaining partial exemptions from the real property taxes that would otherwise be assessed on their residences, and describes how the exemptions would be calculated.

Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes[ ] No[ ]

Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would provide a property tax homestead exemption on real property used as a property owner’s dwelling place. Property owners would file claims to obtain the exemption. “Property ownership” would include fee interests, life estates, and certain other property interests described in the measure. The amount of the exemption, depending on the taxing district, would be calculated based on median property values in the taxing district or on other factors described in the measure.

The full text of the initiative can be found on the Secretary of State's website.

Go To:
Paid for by MajorityRules.org 2131 N 132nd ST, Seattle, WA 98133