Is forcing a municipal corporation of the State of Washington Utility Company to collect a 7.75-percent tax for the citylegal?

It was disappointing to see our fellow trusted council members and mayor (isn’t his job to run the meeting, not lecture orpersuade?) try to justify and lecture us (except for Susan Honda and Jesse Johnson) at March 20’s City Council meetingpacked house as to why they were rushing through a 7.75-percent utility tax before next year’s budget, forcing LakehavenWater and Sewer to collect the money on their behalf. The council and mayor pleaded poverty in all departments in animpressive 90-minute presentation complete with colorful charts, graphs and testimonials likely designed to wear us downpast our bedtimes and pull at our heartstrings. However, many on this same council had previously approved building thePerforming Arts and Event Center our city can’t support yet, knowing the city’s financial situation with a structuralimbalance since 1997, knowing our SCORE Jail responsibilities, knowing our city’s underpaid staff is causing retentionstruggles and our low percentage police coverage, etc.

The Lakehaven Water and Sewer representative who spoke against the tax, along with many other concerned votersspeaking out against it, seemed to have viable solutions that they were willing to meet with the city to discuss, and theywere worth listening to. Jumping into a vote at 10:40 p.m. and choosing not to listen to the public, which likely comes withyears of litigation time and costs (Lakehaven said they will file a lawsuit), plus withholding of the new (likely unlawful) 7.75-percent utility tax revenue, was a surprise to most concerned voters at the council meeting (half full by then).

It seemed characteristic of desperate, unlawful taxing rather than fiscal responsibility. Seems Seattle insanity is leaking intoour own City Council and supposed “strong” (elected) mayor. Sad day.

Debbie Sabin, Federal Way