Affordability

May 03, 2024

IN THE NEWS: Republicans blast Democratic bill that would allow tripling of property tax rates

Republicans in the Washington Senate are calling a property tax measure backed by Democrats “the single most destructive and far-reaching bill of the 2024 session.” At least that’s how Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, and a member of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, described Senate Bill 5770 in a Wednesday news release. SB 5770 would allow...
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March 04, 2024

VIDEO: Sen. Keith Wagoner speaks out against a bill he fears could end retail firearm sales in Washington

The bill would require firearm dealers to install onerous security features and superfluous alarm and surveillance systems, and adopt redundant storage and excessively burdensome record-keeping practices. It also would set minimum insurance-coverage requirements and require employees to undergo yearly background checks.
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February 07, 2024

Wagoner: Property-tax hike most destructive bill this session

Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley and a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement today on Senate Democrats’ plan to vote on Senate Bill 5770, which would allow local property taxes to annually grow up at triple the rate now allowed by law. “The proposed increase...
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January 23, 2024

Wagoner: No need to raise property taxes and rents; there is a better way to get needed funds to local governments

Legislative Democrats recently held a hearing on Senate Bill 5770, which would triple the allowable growth rate of property taxes and almost certainly drive record-high rents up even more. While proponents point to the tax proposal as a way to get much-needed funds to local governments, Sen. Keith Wagoner has...
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