A yes vote on Proposition 1 in the city of Snohomish would make sense even if we were not facing tough economic times. As a Christian and a conservative who supports limited taxes and smaller government, even I concede that a yes vote for a 0.2 percent sales tax increase to cover the c
ost of major road repairs and reduce traffic congestion is a win-win for everyone. After conducting my own research, I volunteered to serve on the committee which drafted the statement in favor of the increase.
The condition of Snohomish streets and the congestion around several of our key intersections as a result of being a pass-through town have never been a point of pride and now we have the opportunity to make a difference. The beauty of the sales tax increase is it will be paid by everyone who spends money in our city. The average Snohomish family like mine will not even notice the additional 2 cents on a $10 purchase from this meager sales tax increase.
Please take the time to educate yourself on Proposition 1 and make an informed and wise decision for you and your neighbors. If it fails we can anticipate one of two things from our City Council, 1) Car tabs will be raised a minimum of $20 per vehicle without a public vote, or 2) Property taxes will be increased even more. In practical terms, the $20 car tab fee for just one vehicle is equivalent to making $10,000 in annual taxed purchases in Snohomish as a result of the sales tax increase.
The money for our streets must come from somewhere and without a specific account it will be pulled from the city’s general fund, which means less revenue for basic services that we all count on.
David Douglas
Snohomish
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