For the social engineers in the crowd who really do believe the problem is that the public is under-taxed, and the government can spend the money better, here's your chance: Snohomish county wants YOU to pay another $559 million. http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/98/10/18/10171610.htm

ASCENT1.htmASCENT1.htm Field director Mike Gaffney makes calls from his desk while Lisa Danielson hangs posters at the ASCENT 21 campaign headquarters in Everett. Campaign signs at right await distribution.

By DALE STEINKE Herald Writer The idea for November's $599 million ASCENT 21 ballot propositions first took flight seven years ago amid a flock of Boeing jet models. It started as a discussion in May 1991 among representatives of about 20 of Snohomish County's largest employers gathered together in the management control center of the Boeing Co.'s 40-81 building, a conference room where jet buyers used to get a sales pitch. This group was turning over the question of how the county could regain its competitive edge in keeping and attracting businesses. Already there were troublesome signs that are common knowledge today: Housing prices were starting to rise and traffic was getting worse. Their discussion quietly took on a life of its own, growing over the next seven years into the five-part property and gas tax plan on the Nov. 3 ballot. The measures are aimed at paying for improving the county's transportation network, boosting its parks and open spaces, reducing localized flooding and improving local water and sewer systems. Voters are being asked to pay for them with higher property taxes, a gasoline tax hike and a real estate excise tax increase for home buyers. It may be the most expensive set of ballot propositions in the county's history that few have heard about. Along the way it has divided those who have.

Others opposed to some or all of the plan include: The Snohomish County-Camano Association of Realtors, Pilchuck Audubon Society's Smart Growth Campaign, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Snohomish County Council member Gary Nelson and citizen activists for lower-income families who would be hardest hit by the taxes.

Those for part or all of ASCENT 21 include: Boeing, GTE, Polygon N.W., Providence Hospital, Puget Sound Energy, Seafirst Bank, Snohomish County Labor Council, Everett Area Chamber of Commerce, County Executive Bob Drewel and the city of Snohomish.

They may be some of the only ones who understand it: Polling commissioned in June by the Realtors showed only 10 percent of registered voters knew anything about the plan.

-- Mark Stilson (mark842@hotmail.com), January 04, 2000

Answers

Hmm, seven years ago, this started. Seven years ago. Need I say more? Oh, why not, I'll say more.

See my message about raising revenues by lowering taxes. It's good to be the king.

-- Paul Oss (jnaut@earthlink.net), January 05, 2000.