Voters resoundingly defeated a measure pushed by initiative king Tim Eyman on Tuesday, but the Mukilteo resident says he will be back next year with up to two more proposals.
Initiative 892, which would have lowered property taxes while allowing the spread of electronic slot machines, was soundly defeated, but Eyman said a similar measure may be coming back to a polling place near you, possibly next year.
In addition, Eyman announced Tuesday that he will push for a new initiative in 2005 that would allow the state auditor to conduct performance audits of state and local governments, their agencies, programs and accounts.
On I-892, Eyman said it’s clear voters had concerns about the measure, and he intends to address those in a new initiative that “maintains 892’s positive aspects” and addresses the concerns.
He said it took him three attempts at the polls and in the courts to lower vehicle taxes, and it may take two or more attempts to fashion the kind of initiative that will satisfy voters and judges.
With nearly $6 million spent by tribal casino interests to defeat I-892, and $1 million gambling interests spent to get it on the ballot, “I view 892 as a $7 million focus group,” Eyman said. “We really had a chance to find out what the voters are telling us.”
I-892 would have doubled the number of electronic slot machines, which now are allowed only in reservation casinos. About 2,000 locations around the state would have been eligible for them, including restaurants, bars, bowling alleys and even some senior centers.
About 35 percent of the take from the machines would have gone to the state to reduce property taxes – about $252 million a year by 2008, according to state estimates.
Until now, Eyman and his Voters Want More Choices coalition have focused on limiting taxes. The Performance Audits of Government Initiative would allow the auditor to determine if tax money is being spent wisely.
Right now, the auditor, who routinely conducts only financial audits, doesn’t have that power, Eyman said.
The initiative would require legislative agencies to conduct hearings after audit results are released to the public. Eyman said that would put a spotlight on what programs the government spends tax money.
“It greases the wheels for government to run better,” he said. “It will forever reform how government taxes and spends our tax dollars. It will fundamentally change government more than any of our previous initiative efforts.”
Since 1999 and his car tabs initiative, Eyman has spearheaded a series of measures to reduce taxes or change where tax money is spent.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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