Property tax relief bill drafted by Sen. Hobbs for 2008 Legislature

OLYMPIA – Property tax relief may have suffered a slight setback following yesterday’s Supreme Court rejection of Initiative 747, but Washington residents can expect to see legislative solutions to the problem.

Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, has been working to draft legislation after hearing from his neighbors about recent spikes in property taxes.

“I’ve gotten quite an earful,” Hobbs said. “Property taxes are a huge burden on working families and seniors, and it’s our responsibility as legislators to find a solution that eases the public’s tax burden.”

As envisioned by Hobbs, his legislation would provide a one-time payment to property owners of an amount equal to 10 percent of property taxes levied on those households earning less than the median income state-wide. The median household income in 2007 is expected to be $60,000. It would be in effect for taxes levied in calendar year 2008, and the payment would be based on both state and local property taxes levied.

“Given our state’s tax structure, revenue sources to pay for government services is limited,” Hobbs said. “My proposal will provide short-term relief for working families, but we still need to look at long-term solutions.”

The Legislature will hold a hearing on the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision on I-747 and property taxes in general during legislative assembly days at the end of November.

The 2008 session is scheduled to begin January 14. Bills can be pre-filed beginning Dec. 3.

The Washington State Supreme Court decided that I-747 was unconstitutional because the initiative sought to amend statutory language that was not the law in effect at the time the people voted on it in 2001.

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