Of course tax limit sought on property

In John Burbank’s Nov. 14 column, “Voters reject roads and transit, embrace red tape,” he chided voters for approving Initiative 747 back in 2001. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that voters want to limit the growth in their property taxes because we’ve seen them skyrocket as our property values have risen.

In just three years my home value (as determined by the county) has risen more than 50 percent, with a concomitant rise in my property tax. This problem affects renters, too. A friend of mine owns four apartments rented to moderate income families at $600 per month. He recently had to increase monthly rent by $50 just to cover most of a $2,500 increase in property tax — an increase due entirely to the new assessment, not to increases in tax rates. My friend made it very clear to his renters that the rent hike was due to a tax increase, the cost of which he couldn’t afford to absorb. As a portion of their income, $50 a month is a considerable burden. So it should come as no surprise when these families also vote against property tax increases.

Eric Fleegal

Bothell