King County faces $50 million budget shortfall over the next two years. If it is not corrected, the Sheriff’s office is expected to take a $3.8 million hit.
As MyNorthwest.com reports, “the helicopters, used for search and rescue and to capture bad guys, are on the chopping block.” King County Sheriff John Urquhart is not happy about it — he recently stated, “Frankly people are going to die if we don’t have a helicopter to go in and get them out.”
Democrat County Executive Dow Constantine agrees. But, his solution is typical of the liberals who grow the size of government and then are shocked – just shocked – when the bill comes due.
Constantine blames the state legislature for “failing to lift the state’s strict 1 percent property tax ceiling, saying it severely limits the amount of money all counties in the state can collect, including King.”
Rather than immediately resort to raising taxes to protect emergency services, perhaps Constantine should consider a more creative solution — like making county government more efficient, or live within its means.
Just an idea, but perhaps King County Metro could go without a glorified potty break coordinator that gets paid $100,000 a year – plus benefits. Maybe, just maybe, that task could be delegated to existing bureaucrats.
Of course, Democrats are not creative when it comes to efficiency… only when it comes to raising taxes spending other peoples’ hard-earned dollars.
Sorry, but no. No, no, no, no, no. I fled Silicon Valley for this exact nonsense. If I am at work and running over budget, I have to cut corners or find a way to get things done with less. I do NOT get a credit card with more money to spend. Same for this. Every election has yet another “special” levy, parcel tax, whatever. Enough! Figure out how to live within YOUR budget, without destroying MINE in the process.
If I have to choose between feeding my family, saving for college and paying my kids’ medical bills or funding a SAR helicopter that I will never, ever use, that’s a pretty easy choice.
I think maybe you landed on the wrong side of the mountains. It ain’t quite so bad over here.
Dow constantine wastes $$ on potty break coordinators Stop the madness. Fire Dow, don’t raise taxes. Make KC live within its means and prioritize spending on what matters–not what doesn’t. Dow may still be wasting taxpayer $$ on the West Seattle Ferry nonsense, simply to please big-$$$ donors. That’s wrong.
The one percent limit is not really one percent. It’s one percent PLUS the additional property tax from new construction and renovations. That’s how property tax revenue keeps pace with growth.