As the pubic facility districts in Everett and Lynnwood get cranked up to siphon off sales tax dollars and create added burden on tax payers in the future, let’s look at our transportation needs. You’ve heard about it right?
Here’s a quote from the Evergreen Freedom Foundation’s Web site in regard to government assets which seems reasonable and full of common sense:
“State and local governments should sell their interests in assets that do not serve core functions of government.
If owning an interest in a facility serves a core government function, government should consider the cost savings of privatizing the facility’s operations.
However, if the facility does not serve a core government function, government should sell its interest. One-time revenue will be generated by the sale of the facility and recurring revenue will be realized from property, sales, and business and occupation taxes.
In 1998 and 1999, more than 60 airports were sold or leased to private owners worldwide. Using an industry rule of thumb that ties the value of the airport to the number of passengers it serves each year, our own Seattle-Tacoma International Airport could bring in almost $2 billion.
Some facilities state and local governments should consider selling or privatizing: Safeco Field, Seahawks stadium, Seattle Convention Center, Boeing Field and Sea-Tac International Airport.”
Now is not the time to be adding more government assets that are not core functions of the government. If sales taxes are high enough to support such non-core functions of government then lower the tax. Or, use our money for direct core government functions, such as roads.
Let’s concentrate on roads guys, not empire building with the voters’ money.
Everett
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