PORT ANGELES — The City Council on Tuesday night unanimously passed a resolution opposing Initiative 1033, which is on the statewide ballot.
The vote came after four people commented on the ballot measure during the City Council meeting.
Each spoke against the Tim Eyman-sponsored initiative which would restrict government revenue, and urged the council to oppose it.
City Council member Larry Williams said proponents of the initiative don’t realize how it would restrict services that they expect government to provide.
Referring to the state’s initiative process, he said, “In my opinion, it’s been hijacked and people are just not paying attention.”
The initiative would limit revenue growth in the general fund — which in Port Angeles pays for police and fire services, parks and recreation, and contributes to street maintenance and improvements — of state, county and city governments in Washington.
Under the initiative, a general fund would each year be limited to the previous year’s revenue plus annual inflation multiplied by the percentage change in population.
Any revenue that exceeds that formula would have to be given to property owners through lower property taxes the following year.
The state and local governments could override the limit only by getting approval from the voters.
Cost weighed
The city is estimating that the initiative would cost its general fund, which is projected to be $17.3 million next year, about $2.3 million by 2015.
Supporters of the initiative say it is needed to rein in government spending and protect taxpayers.
But opponents, such as the four residents who spoke at the Tuesday meeting, say it would severely limit the ability of cities, counties and the state to provide basic services.
William Kildall, coordinator for Healthcare Now and a Port Angeles resident, said it would also hit schools and public hospitals like Olympic Medical Center hard.
‘Cripple government’
“It will cripple government’s ability to help thousands who have lost their jobs, homes and health care due to the current recision,” Kildall said.
“It will lock in cuts, force layoffs . . . and even school closures.”
The initiative doesn’t list school and hospital districts as having to comply with the general fund cap, but opponents say it would still limit their state funding contributions.
Port of Port Angeles Finance Director Bill James told the Peninsula Daily News on Tuesday that it is unclear if the ballot measure would restrict revenues for ports.
Nelson Cone, a county resident, said at the meeting that the initiative would mean that “the present hard times will become the best future we can expect.”
Port Angeles resident Norma Turner said the initiative only benefits those who can afford property, and City Council candidate Max Mania also briefly spoke against I-1033.
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Staff Writer Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
