OLYMPIA — A temporary tax on bottled water isn’t even in place yet and state lawmakers are already trying to make it permanent.
On Sunday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee approved placing a $505 million school construction bond on the November ballot.
Money from the bonds would pay for weatherizing and energy-saving improvements in public schools, creating up to 30,000 construction jobs over a six-year period, according to supporters.
If approved by voters, the bonds will be repaid with proceeds from a new sales tax on bottled water that is part of the $667 million tax package advancing in a different bill through the Legislature.
In that proposal, the tax would take effect June 1 and expire June 30, 2013. If voters approve the bond, the expiration date disappears and the tax becomes permanent.
Rep. Hans Dunshee, D- Snohomish, the measure’s sponsor, said Sunday he didn’t suggest tapping the bottled water tax but accepted its use to get the proposal out of the Legislature.
“It might draw some opposition but I think when people look at (bond) and see we can get better schools and we can get jobs I think they’ll support it,” he said.
State Treasurer Jim McIntire and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, opposed the bond because they didn’t want the cash-strapped general fund used to repay the bonds.
With a dedicated stream of revenues, they’re now on board.
“At this point, I think all of my concerns have been addressed and so it would be something I see no reason not to take forward,” McIntire said.
Brown acknowledged the public might react negatively to Democrats creating this tax as a temporary measure in one bill and trying to make it permanent in another — especially when both bills could be voted on today.
“I think what we’re saying is if the voters want to do this bond, then I would imagine they would also want us to fund those bonds so it’s not crowding out education or higher ed or some other priority,” she said.
“If you’re going to enter into more debt you figure out a way to pay for it and that’s been our plan,” she said.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.