It is essential that the Clallam County Charter pass a resolution that addresses consequences for unethical behavior. If voters are not represented by elected officials there must be consequences
Definately, however several of the Commissioners, Fisch & Stoffer, are more concerned about addressing by-laws to censure social media & First Amendment rights for the public rather than addressing any consequences for the masters of our taxes. Yeah looks like they are working for government & not for us.
They will tell you that the mechanisms are 1) elections, or 2) the recall process.
Commissioner French wonderfully illustrated, at a minimum, that when he was part of a NGO and a decision/vote needed to be made he recused himself acknowledging it was the right thing to do.
At a minimum a Code of Conduct for conflicts needs to be established so that any elected or county employee has the guidance to act properly.
Annually every county employee or elected official needs to identify any potential conflicts of interest they are involved with. That way guidance can be determined how to avoid it.
Problem is, who is to determine 'unethical behavior'? The same court that is determining 'free speech' for Charter Review Commissioners (CRC)? The majority of this commission consists of stated Democrats whom, I believe, have shown an ideology favoring censorship of differing opinions. Case in point: Town Hall.
Agreement on the definitions/situations is important, ahead of time and equally apply to anyone in the position. While some believe this request is political, there will be a day when someone else is occupying an elected or employee position and we would all want these people to act on the citizens best interest, not theirs.
Many companies have bought into an ethics program because it reduces missteps that can financially burden the bottom line. That's their motivation.
The motivation voters need to keep in mind are as I described.
I think starting with what is considered unethical broadly speaking. Such as conflict of interest, if one has the potential to gain financially or otherwise by a decision one has a vote on, recusal (sp?) Independent hearing examiner, financial disclosure. Basic kindergarten stuff.
Whether it's "my team" or "their team" I want the people in power held accountable. Transparency is a good start.
I'll go back to what I've heard when there's pushback, and what got us here. There's a genuine belief that the RCWs that cover ethics are "sufficient" and address the criminal violations. It's entirely insufficient though to cover the broadly speaking ethics violations that even Commissioner French handled correctly. While he did the right thing, there's no guarantee without any guidance that other commissioners would act appropriately.
I hear you, I was just meaning starting with the bare minimum would be a place to start. I've been surprised (and a little embarrassed) at the naive assumptions I had around government ethics regulations. I feel like things have either really slipped (like removing punishment for ethics violations in the first place), or were never really that ethical to begin with (like not having a requirement to recusal).
I'd really like to see the charter review committee prioritizing these bare minimum gov. Accountability measures. The way I see it, all else hinges on the reliability and accountability of these elected officials.
The only way to fix all of this disparity is to make everyone property tax free just like President Trump says & wants. This would make everyone equal. Right? Isn’t that what the left wants is equality….so that part is easy peasy. If no property tax is good for the tribes then no property tax should be good for all. There’s more ways to skin a cat…tax payers need to get an initiative on a ballot “NO MORE PROPERTY TAXES. TRIBES DON’T PAY PROPERTY TAX THEN AMERICANS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY EITHER. I thank the tribes for leading the way for the rest of us in regards to this issue.
Volunteer police, firemen, road care, housing permits, county health, volunteer for everything! Yeah right. We'ld look like a 3rd world ghetto in short time.
Jean, besides volunteering like you do graciously so much of, thank you, all peoples would be evenly taxed and those taxes would provide the same to ghettos as it does now.
The reason why we have ghettos in the first place is because our government creates and wants crisis for people so there is no substantial way out, it’s called dependency. Government wants dependent ghettos so they can control them.
Another words there are many more taxes other than property taxes the tribes pay as we do, like sales tax, income tax, gas tax etc. Government can increase other taxes like they do now to make up for the property tax shortfall. Then every American would pay equal taxes. The tribes would have to pay all taxes instead of the way it is now allowing them to not pay property tax and American taxpayers get stuck paying for the TRIBAL PROPERTY TAX SHORTFALL which is on the rise every year. Just think this is happening year after year and will increase year after year, another ghetto making crisis.
Not only do tribes NOT pay gas tax, they get to KEEP 75% of the gas tax collected at their grant bought gas stations. Why do they get to keep that money meant for roads and schools?
The idea that they can only raise property taxes 1% a year is a scam! The have the ability to raise you property value and tax you on that. A few years ago, they raised our property value by over 40% IN ONE YEAR! Needless to say, this raised our propert tax by over 40% IN ONE YEAR! None of the politicians in this State, as far as I know, can be trusted as far as I could kick them, and boy would I love to do that!
Yes the politicians forget or ignore that we too have increased costs that have to be paid and must cut our budgets to retain our homes, a fiscal duty they refuse.
The tax bill they want to pass makes it more certain the homeowners will be at constant risk as the rates can rise unexpectedly. The comms intentions to allow ngos and co depts to raise our taxes without a vote is reason enough to bar commissioners from them. Another sign they will not honestly admit their refusal to manage the money they are already giving away. Then the groups take the fault for it, the comms grinning all the way.
Great job on the numbers. On their own they are significant enough, but when you factor in the NODC, SERN and ICLEI goal to create a "compensation mechanism" to get "reparations for colonization" to "heal" or "repair" a " broken relationship," it sure looks like the results of 14 years of teeing it all up nicely for the tribe. When combined with the shipping increases, its proof and evidence of economic espionage, outlined by the United Nations, and the ICLEI Charter and mission.
I want to see cuts to the homeless industrial complex in Clallam County. They love to cry that they’re short on revenue but the county commissioners always seem to have money to spare when Peninsula Behavioral Health or Serenity House ask.
I just sent this to our district reps. after written testimony on this bill. Today is the day to let them hear from you.
This bill is beyond belief. We the people are losing our American Dream to higher and higher spending by you governors. I worked very hard and saved my money, often giving up niceties, to purchase my property, just to have it taken away by your out of control spending. You do not appear to represent me, only your own greed. You must denounce this bill. Start spending as if it were your money, not other peoples.
The non-profit brochure distribution system costs a lot of money. City, County, and State clipboards with questionnaire asking why you are homeless, asking why you ran away from home, asking if you like playing with funny shaped balloons, and then hand them the appropriate non-profit brochure. That's the complex. Hey, your going to raise the cost of your political pelt if you don't watch it.
INVASION OF THE LAND SNATCHERS! Scary enough, but it is hard to convince people that this is happening. Keep on writing Jeff, more and more are finding out.
Great job identifying property taxes lost. I hope the promised meeting also includes lost gas and sales tax revenue from tribal owned businesses. How about cannabis tax? Is that another tax being collected but not remitted?
Yes. And as Jeff pointed out. Numbers are actually way higher when you consider the current values. Those millions lost would be noticeable in even a bigger county like King co or Pierce co. Let alone a budget like Clallam co. Its like taking a % food out of our freezer and telling us to just tighten our belt.
Thanks Jeff. If another sovereign nation (say, Japan) owned property here would they have to pay property tax, other taxes and fees.? This is a national issue. Some tribes are wealthy, some poor. This should be a federal, state issue, maybe its time to allow taxation in the country as a whole.
Thank you, Jeff, and the two volunteers who worked to bring us this important information. The exorbitant tax increases are ruining CC in real time. Every gov't agency wants a piece of my pie. What happens when I run out of pie? I don't have enough of anything to make more pies.
You're welcome. Someday, you might not be able to afford to make pie. But the government will be there to provide you with some pie. It won't be as delicious as the pie you used to make, but it will save you the effort, and you won't starve. You won't thrive either... you'll just kind of "be." Then, when it comes time to vote, you'll have a choice: Do you want to be kicked out of a program and work hard to buy pie ingredients like you used to, or will you vote for someone who promises that you can sit there and receive mediocre pie?
Clallam county commissioners intentions are very clear, they want higher property taxes to squander.M ozias relationship with jamestown tribe should be looked at as a 'conflict of interest'.I think if commissioners had the authority to triple property tax rate which would bankrupt and force the sale of properties for the low income they would do it ASAP.Commissioners possibly made a statement that they would approve 2 one per cent hikes when given the authority to do so.If state approves new law that takes 1% cap off property tax and leaves county commissioners in charge of setting tax rate then clallam county and other radical taxaholic state counties are in serious trouble.This potential problem could lead to mass buisnesses & home owners leaving state like california all because of home wrecking radicals getting elected.
Acting on behalf of a campaign donor would be easy to discern, and certainly could be viewed as a COI. That said there are likely policies in place that essentially require a BOCCC to be a liaison with the JST, Elwha, Makah, etc. If so that needs to be unraveled before an ethics oversight policy can be applied.
Geez Jeff, can we refer to you as Clallam County DOGE? Oh no we’ll need another Charter Review by-law committee session to deal with that one….great facts, thanks.
We need to seriously talk about the loss of County property taxes to certain entities that do not pay taxes.
We as Clallam County tax payers should not be given the burden of the proposed higher tax! Is our County Commissioners working for the betterment of the Clallam County citizens, or someone else? If they cannot, we should begin plans to elect a new Clallam County Commissioner Board, who will represent the “entire” populous of Clallam County instead of special interests, within and outside of our County.
I see treaty entitlement within the borders of the USA as simply another of the infinite possibilities of "minorities". Gender, ancestry, body features like skin tone and weight, sexual deviancy and you can make up the rest. The possibilities of "minorities" is only limited by the number of humans on this planet. Each of us is biologically unique, making each of us a minority of one. A simple solution to the inequities of treaty sovereignty is to treat all sovereign lands the same. Travel to and from sovereign lands requires passports, passport services, established limited stay requirements, etc.. Enforcing sovereignty equality would bring many benefits, including the end of the Ozias / Jamestown love fest.
The system is broken. The current Clallam County leadership and truthfully most citizens are stuck in the broken paradigm. Leadership will continue to pursue raising capital to cover spending and most citizens will expect and accept it. They know no other way.
We are still in the beginning stages of the fall out and unfortunately no leadership will change course until we are completely incapacitated from the overdose. Then hopefully there will still be enough heartbeat to shock back into rhythm, but probably not.
Times are changing quickly and the tax and spend model will not work much longer, but neither will stopping spending and cutting taxes. Something very different must happen. I don't know the answer but I know we have to stop asking for others to be taxed more if we don't want to be taxed more.
Property tax is the true slave tax. You can not live freely if there is always the threat a government can displace you for not paying them. The tribes know this.
It is essential that the Clallam County Charter pass a resolution that addresses consequences for unethical behavior. If voters are not represented by elected officials there must be consequences
Definately, however several of the Commissioners, Fisch & Stoffer, are more concerned about addressing by-laws to censure social media & First Amendment rights for the public rather than addressing any consequences for the masters of our taxes. Yeah looks like they are working for government & not for us.
They will tell you that the mechanisms are 1) elections, or 2) the recall process.
Commissioner French wonderfully illustrated, at a minimum, that when he was part of a NGO and a decision/vote needed to be made he recused himself acknowledging it was the right thing to do.
At a minimum a Code of Conduct for conflicts needs to be established so that any elected or county employee has the guidance to act properly.
Annually every county employee or elected official needs to identify any potential conflicts of interest they are involved with. That way guidance can be determined how to avoid it.
I agree! Full disclosure of any non-profit or NGO for all elected officials.
Problem is, who is to determine 'unethical behavior'? The same court that is determining 'free speech' for Charter Review Commissioners (CRC)? The majority of this commission consists of stated Democrats whom, I believe, have shown an ideology favoring censorship of differing opinions. Case in point: Town Hall.
Agreement on the definitions/situations is important, ahead of time and equally apply to anyone in the position. While some believe this request is political, there will be a day when someone else is occupying an elected or employee position and we would all want these people to act on the citizens best interest, not theirs.
Many companies have bought into an ethics program because it reduces missteps that can financially burden the bottom line. That's their motivation.
The motivation voters need to keep in mind are as I described.
I think starting with what is considered unethical broadly speaking. Such as conflict of interest, if one has the potential to gain financially or otherwise by a decision one has a vote on, recusal (sp?) Independent hearing examiner, financial disclosure. Basic kindergarten stuff.
Whether it's "my team" or "their team" I want the people in power held accountable. Transparency is a good start.
I'll go back to what I've heard when there's pushback, and what got us here. There's a genuine belief that the RCWs that cover ethics are "sufficient" and address the criminal violations. It's entirely insufficient though to cover the broadly speaking ethics violations that even Commissioner French handled correctly. While he did the right thing, there's no guarantee without any guidance that other commissioners would act appropriately.
I hear you, I was just meaning starting with the bare minimum would be a place to start. I've been surprised (and a little embarrassed) at the naive assumptions I had around government ethics regulations. I feel like things have either really slipped (like removing punishment for ethics violations in the first place), or were never really that ethical to begin with (like not having a requirement to recusal).
I'd really like to see the charter review committee prioritizing these bare minimum gov. Accountability measures. The way I see it, all else hinges on the reliability and accountability of these elected officials.
Please speak up at their meeting next Monday and let your voice be heard.
Planning to! Also planning on going to the town-hall meetings to be a real squeaky wheel.
The only way to fix all of this disparity is to make everyone property tax free just like President Trump says & wants. This would make everyone equal. Right? Isn’t that what the left wants is equality….so that part is easy peasy. If no property tax is good for the tribes then no property tax should be good for all. There’s more ways to skin a cat…tax payers need to get an initiative on a ballot “NO MORE PROPERTY TAXES. TRIBES DON’T PAY PROPERTY TAX THEN AMERICANS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY EITHER. I thank the tribes for leading the way for the rest of us in regards to this issue.
One tribe-TRIBE USA
I agree! Fair taxes for all! Brava, Pepa!
Volunteer police, firemen, road care, housing permits, county health, volunteer for everything! Yeah right. We'ld look like a 3rd world ghetto in short time.
Jean, besides volunteering like you do graciously so much of, thank you, all peoples would be evenly taxed and those taxes would provide the same to ghettos as it does now.
The reason why we have ghettos in the first place is because our government creates and wants crisis for people so there is no substantial way out, it’s called dependency. Government wants dependent ghettos so they can control them.
Another words there are many more taxes other than property taxes the tribes pay as we do, like sales tax, income tax, gas tax etc. Government can increase other taxes like they do now to make up for the property tax shortfall. Then every American would pay equal taxes. The tribes would have to pay all taxes instead of the way it is now allowing them to not pay property tax and American taxpayers get stuck paying for the TRIBAL PROPERTY TAX SHORTFALL which is on the rise every year. Just think this is happening year after year and will increase year after year, another ghetto making crisis.
Not only do tribes NOT pay gas tax, they get to KEEP 75% of the gas tax collected at their grant bought gas stations. Why do they get to keep that money meant for roads and schools?
Have you seen port Angeles lately? It’s turning “trailer trash” I don’t know if that’s worse than ghetto or rez?
Spoken like a real winner 🤮
The idea that they can only raise property taxes 1% a year is a scam! The have the ability to raise you property value and tax you on that. A few years ago, they raised our property value by over 40% IN ONE YEAR! Needless to say, this raised our propert tax by over 40% IN ONE YEAR! None of the politicians in this State, as far as I know, can be trusted as far as I could kick them, and boy would I love to do that!
And home insurance increase followed, doubling the tax and insurance bill from last year.
Yeah, I forgot about the insurance going up on increased evaluation. Thanks for the reminder. Time to get the razor blade out.
Yes the politicians forget or ignore that we too have increased costs that have to be paid and must cut our budgets to retain our homes, a fiscal duty they refuse.
The tax bill they want to pass makes it more certain the homeowners will be at constant risk as the rates can rise unexpectedly. The comms intentions to allow ngos and co depts to raise our taxes without a vote is reason enough to bar commissioners from them. Another sign they will not honestly admit their refusal to manage the money they are already giving away. Then the groups take the fault for it, the comms grinning all the way.
Great job on the numbers. On their own they are significant enough, but when you factor in the NODC, SERN and ICLEI goal to create a "compensation mechanism" to get "reparations for colonization" to "heal" or "repair" a " broken relationship," it sure looks like the results of 14 years of teeing it all up nicely for the tribe. When combined with the shipping increases, its proof and evidence of economic espionage, outlined by the United Nations, and the ICLEI Charter and mission.
I want to see cuts to the homeless industrial complex in Clallam County. They love to cry that they’re short on revenue but the county commissioners always seem to have money to spare when Peninsula Behavioral Health or Serenity House ask.
You can tell our state legislators where you stand on SB 5798 directly with your “vote” at https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=33213&aId=166612&caId=26762&tId=3. This bill is the one which would raise the local governments tax cap from 1 to 3%.
I just sent this to our district reps. after written testimony on this bill. Today is the day to let them hear from you.
This bill is beyond belief. We the people are losing our American Dream to higher and higher spending by you governors. I worked very hard and saved my money, often giving up niceties, to purchase my property, just to have it taken away by your out of control spending. You do not appear to represent me, only your own greed. You must denounce this bill. Start spending as if it were your money, not other peoples.
Thanks Mark, that was easy enough!
The non-profit brochure distribution system costs a lot of money. City, County, and State clipboards with questionnaire asking why you are homeless, asking why you ran away from home, asking if you like playing with funny shaped balloons, and then hand them the appropriate non-profit brochure. That's the complex. Hey, your going to raise the cost of your political pelt if you don't watch it.
INVASION OF THE LAND SNATCHERS! Scary enough, but it is hard to convince people that this is happening. Keep on writing Jeff, more and more are finding out.
Great job identifying property taxes lost. I hope the promised meeting also includes lost gas and sales tax revenue from tribal owned businesses. How about cannabis tax? Is that another tax being collected but not remitted?
Yes. And as Jeff pointed out. Numbers are actually way higher when you consider the current values. Those millions lost would be noticeable in even a bigger county like King co or Pierce co. Let alone a budget like Clallam co. Its like taking a % food out of our freezer and telling us to just tighten our belt.
They send most of the Cannabis tax to Olympia to pay for the pot police.
Do we know that they actually pass those taxes through to OLY
Yes. Senator River's sponsored SB 5073 that re-distributed the money that was supposed to go to local property crime enforcement.
Thank you. Looks like we need someone to write a bill for clallam cty.
Thanks Jeff. If another sovereign nation (say, Japan) owned property here would they have to pay property tax, other taxes and fees.? This is a national issue. Some tribes are wealthy, some poor. This should be a federal, state issue, maybe its time to allow taxation in the country as a whole.
Love it……now we’re talking…..equality for all, one nation under God!
Good points, Jean.
Thank you, Jeff, and the two volunteers who worked to bring us this important information. The exorbitant tax increases are ruining CC in real time. Every gov't agency wants a piece of my pie. What happens when I run out of pie? I don't have enough of anything to make more pies.
You're welcome. Someday, you might not be able to afford to make pie. But the government will be there to provide you with some pie. It won't be as delicious as the pie you used to make, but it will save you the effort, and you won't starve. You won't thrive either... you'll just kind of "be." Then, when it comes time to vote, you'll have a choice: Do you want to be kicked out of a program and work hard to buy pie ingredients like you used to, or will you vote for someone who promises that you can sit there and receive mediocre pie?
Denise, then you eat cake.
Zing! Gotta get up earlier than that to pull one over on Jennifer :)
I could have said he ran out of dough $$$
Too funny!
Mom joke!
I hadn't had my coffee yet.
Vive La France!
Clallam county commissioners intentions are very clear, they want higher property taxes to squander.M ozias relationship with jamestown tribe should be looked at as a 'conflict of interest'.I think if commissioners had the authority to triple property tax rate which would bankrupt and force the sale of properties for the low income they would do it ASAP.Commissioners possibly made a statement that they would approve 2 one per cent hikes when given the authority to do so.If state approves new law that takes 1% cap off property tax and leaves county commissioners in charge of setting tax rate then clallam county and other radical taxaholic state counties are in serious trouble.This potential problem could lead to mass buisnesses & home owners leaving state like california all because of home wrecking radicals getting elected.
Acting on behalf of a campaign donor would be easy to discern, and certainly could be viewed as a COI. That said there are likely policies in place that essentially require a BOCCC to be a liaison with the JST, Elwha, Makah, etc. If so that needs to be unraveled before an ethics oversight policy can be applied.
I think our commissioners believe they are above any oversight discipline and can continue on their incompetent reckless ways.
Ozias suffers from the same demented policies of what used to be my 'party'...
Spend more? Out of money? No problem. RAISE TAXES.
And oh yeah, it hits me too, vote for a salary increase.
Geez Jeff, can we refer to you as Clallam County DOGE? Oh no we’ll need another Charter Review by-law committee session to deal with that one….great facts, thanks.
You're welcome!
We need to seriously talk about the loss of County property taxes to certain entities that do not pay taxes.
We as Clallam County tax payers should not be given the burden of the proposed higher tax! Is our County Commissioners working for the betterment of the Clallam County citizens, or someone else? If they cannot, we should begin plans to elect a new Clallam County Commissioner Board, who will represent the “entire” populous of Clallam County instead of special interests, within and outside of our County.
I put my money where my mouth is. I won't spend a dime anywhere unless that entity pays and contributes to the tax base.
Agreed. No golf, dining, gambling or gas purchases from JTS. It’s not difficult.
Or pot smoking
Surveying, excavating, concrete work, a cup of coffee at Washington and Sequim Ave...and I'm sure there's more.
Or double chocolate weed brownies? ; (
I see treaty entitlement within the borders of the USA as simply another of the infinite possibilities of "minorities". Gender, ancestry, body features like skin tone and weight, sexual deviancy and you can make up the rest. The possibilities of "minorities" is only limited by the number of humans on this planet. Each of us is biologically unique, making each of us a minority of one. A simple solution to the inequities of treaty sovereignty is to treat all sovereign lands the same. Travel to and from sovereign lands requires passports, passport services, established limited stay requirements, etc.. Enforcing sovereignty equality would bring many benefits, including the end of the Ozias / Jamestown love fest.
Home insurance and tax bill is now double from last year!!!!!
The system is broken. The current Clallam County leadership and truthfully most citizens are stuck in the broken paradigm. Leadership will continue to pursue raising capital to cover spending and most citizens will expect and accept it. They know no other way.
We are still in the beginning stages of the fall out and unfortunately no leadership will change course until we are completely incapacitated from the overdose. Then hopefully there will still be enough heartbeat to shock back into rhythm, but probably not.
Times are changing quickly and the tax and spend model will not work much longer, but neither will stopping spending and cutting taxes. Something very different must happen. I don't know the answer but I know we have to stop asking for others to be taxed more if we don't want to be taxed more.
Annually tax-paying Americans aren't free and clear from paying taxes until mid-April! No American deserves to be a slave to the gov't.
Property tax is the true slave tax. You can not live freely if there is always the threat a government can displace you for not paying them. The tribes know this.