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With I-695, fate of old car tax up in air
With I-695, fate of old car tax up in air
1937 excise levy could be resurrected by courts and Legislature
Thursday, October 14, 1999
By ANGELA GALLOWAY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT
OLYMPIA -- The courts and Legislature would decide whether passage of Initiative
695 would resurrect an old property tax on vehicles, according to an informal
opinion released yesterday by the state Attorney General's Office.
I-695 would replace the motor vehicle excise tax, which is based on vehicle
value, with a flat $30 fee. It also would require voter approval of all tax
and fee increases.
The vehicle property tax was made defunct by the motor vehicle excise tax
in 1937. While putting voters "on notice" that I-695 could re-enact the old
property tax, the decision is up to the courts and lawmakers, the opinion said.
If voters approve I-695 and the issue is taken to court, the Attorney General's
Office would have to defend the measure.
County assessors would be responsible for collecting any property tax on cars.
The opinion was requested by the state Department of Revenue, which has the
job of telling assessors what the effects could be.
Get ready just in case, the opinion said.
A mail survey conducted by Elway Research of Seattle and released yesterday
found that 77 percent of local elected officials plan to vote against the initiative.
Another 10 percent were undecided.
The opposition was especially strong among county officials, who made up 30
percent of the 648 respondents.
Among elected county leaders, 88 percent said they plan to vote no, compared
to 76 percent of city officials.
Apparently, local politicians don't think their deep opposition will swing
enough votes to defeat the initiative. Some 64 percent said they expect it to
pass.
Nearly 20 percent said they didn't know.
Elway Research did not calculate a margin of error, saying it did not apply
to a mail survey.
