YAKIMA, Wash. — Tim Eyman’s statewide anti-tax initiatives receive strong support each election year in Yakima, so it seems Eyman is offering some of that support back to local politicians.
In an email blast following the Yakima City Council’s decision Tuesday to let voters decide whether the council should require a two-thirds majority to implement new taxes, Eyman couldn’t help but gush. The council’s 3-2 vote came as two members were absent.
“Yakima’s city council made a heroic decision, letting the voters decide, and I’m certain that the council members’ constituents sincerely appreciate the opportunity,” Eyman wrote.
He went on to thank council members Bill Lover, Rick Ensey and Sara Bristol, who voted to put the charter amendment on the August primary ballot, for their “heroism.”
“Voters, of course, support making it tougher to raise taxes — that’s not new,” Eyman wrote. “What is new is there is a growing number of heroic elected officials who are willing to let the people vote.”
That same night the council also decided to send to voters another amendment that would require the council to dedicate an additional $2 million annually to road repairs. Without creating a new source of revenue, council members said they will rely on funds currently going to pay off construction bonds, in addition to projected increases in sales tax revenue.
The council also voted to increase city bus fares and to cut bus service to shore up projected shortfalls in the city’s transit budget.
Contact Mike Faulk at 509-577-7675 or mfaulk@yakimaherald.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/Mike_Faulk.