Diverse group voices opposition to I-1033 - The Columbian

Local workers at Chamber gathering decry revenue cap
Thursday, October 15 | 10:48 p.m.

BY ANDREA DAMEWOOD
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

They came from diverse backgrounds: a businessmen, a firefighter, several health care workers and an education advocate.

But they all had the same thing to say: Vote no on Initiative 1033.

The group gathered at the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce on Thursday to warn voters that I-1033 — aimed at slowing the growth of state and local governments — will have disastrous effects in ways they may not have considered.

"The passage of 1033 would result in at least one closure of a fire station," said Mark Johnston, president of the Vancouver Firefighters Union. "People are going to die needlessly, their houses are going to burn down."

I-1033 would cap revenue for state, county and city general funds at the rate of inflation plus population growth. Revenue above the cap would be used to reduce property taxes. Voters could separately approve additional revenue sources that go over the growth cap.

Vancouver city officials said last week that should I-1033 pass, the total shortfall to the city's budget could reach up to $58.2 million by 2015.

The measure, opponents say, intentionally misleads voters.

"Would I like to have my property taxes lowered? Yes, of course I would," said Carrie VanZant, clinic manager at Community Health Centers. "But not at this price."

A spokesman for Southwest Washington Medical Center and an in-home caregiver also spoke out against I-1033.

They said the initiative will reduce state payments to medical providers, cutting services to those who need them the most — the elderly, poor and disabled.

"The entire health safety net would be jeopardized," Southwest Washington Medical Center spokesman Chad Dillard said.

Washington State PTA legislative director Jeanette Muck said she's terrified that her children's class sizes will continue to skyrocket if the measure passes.

But I-1033 sponsor Tim Eyman said governments have already adjusted to a 1 percent cap on property tax growth passed in 2001's Initiative 747, and they will learn to live within their means again.

"Pre-election scare tactics never match up with post-election reality," Eyman said.

However, I-1033 will place limits on all revenue, not just property taxes.

Under such tough restraints, cities will not be ready to accommodate business when the economy turns around, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce president Kim Capeloto said.

He added that several chambers of commerce have come out against I-1033, including those in Seattle, Camas-Washougal, Tacoma-Pierce County, Bremerton, Everett and Renton.

However, the Washington chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business announced Thursday that it supports I-1033.

A poll last week of 548 likely voters conducted for Seattle's King 5 News found that 45 percent of those polled intended to support the measure, 32 percent said they would vote against it, and 22 percent remained undecided.

But the opposition said they are bolstered by a last-minute influx of $1.5 million into the "no" campaign, bringing their coffers to $2.5 million.

They also said it's not too late to spread their message to Clark County voters, whose ballots will arrive in mailboxes soon.

"It's just a bad idea," Capeloto said.

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