Benton County public safety tax is driven by greed. How much should we give? | Opinion
Public safety tax amount ‘greedy’
Benton County commissioners want to put another Public Safety Sales Tax on the November ballot. The current tax runs through 2024, and I suspect they want to sneak this one in a year early before there can be any meaningful discussion about the numerous problems with it.
One problem: RCW 82.14.450 stipulates a maximum allowable tax rate of three-tenths of one percent, and the county commissioners want the maximum. That’s also what they wanted and what the voters approved in 2014.
But by May 2018, a little over three years after the tax was implemented, the county had already amassed a windfall of more than $15 million of excess taxpayer money generated by this tax, with more pouring in every month.
That money, yours and mine, was money they didn’t need. I questioned then whether the commissioners had been incompetent or greedy when calculating this tax. Now we know it was greed because they’re asking for the same rate, to amass the same obscene surplus.
Benton County commissioners see taxpayers as a bunch of schmucks, but with deep pockets. Unless the county commissioners can exercise responsibility and constraint with taxpayer money, I urge you to vote “NO” on this measure.
Tim Taylor, Richland
Latin belongs in our public schools
The Latin language is a highly precise and logical language that greatly aids in learning within various disciplines. Historically, Latin is more widely studied in prestigious institutions. Unfortunately, due to limited accessibility, it has slowly edged out of our curricula.
Latin is an important tool in education and has many uses: helping (students) pursue careers within medicine, law and science because these fields are based on Latin roots.
There are many ways to implement Latin learning, not only by creating a formal language class, but also by incorporating Latin into already existing classes, like English.
Creating a new class specifically for Latin can be difficult due to limited resources, but accredited free online learning options are available.
In the classroom, small changes can be made to bolster our education. Learning Latin can start as early as elementary school. For example, in vocabulary lessons, incorporating knowledge about the basic Latin roots that make up English.
Learning Latin roots helps create a solid foundation for the English language and will help with other foreign languages like Spanish, French and Italian, as Latin is the foundation of Romance languages.
Taryn Boonpongmanee, Richland
Parties can work together for us
Sen. Matt Boehnke, Reps. Stephanie Barnard and April Connors (all Republicans) sent a brochure out last June on the work accomplished in the last session.
I, for one, appreciated their effort on our behalf. They have done an excellent job representing us and have brought home funding for dozens of needed projects.
It is reassuring that our political system is working as it should at the state level. There was give and take in negotiations. There was mutual respect between the two parties and agreements were made in good faith.
Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell (both D-Washington) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Washington) I should take note on how a political system should work.
I sent them an e-mail expressing my gratitude and thanks. I also asked them to champion an issue that is in their domain. Electric vehicles don’t use gasoline and don’t pay gas taxes, but they do cause wear and tear.
I asked them to find a fair way for electric vehicles to pay their share for maintaining our roads and highways. They have not replied. I now realize that I was asking Republicans to raise taxes; that is like throwing holy water on a vampire.
Don Sebelien, Pasco
