Given the success of podcasts during the presidential election, I would love to see more elected officials embrace this long-form and interactive format. I can sympathize with the need for public safety. However, our property taxes have grown at a 9% annual rate for the past five years - far above inflation. I am tired of seeing my personal expenses grow significantly faster than my own wages. I am cutting back and living on my savings accounts. I don't see the County also tightening its belt. As a reminder, property tax collections can grow faster than the 1% cap as new housing builds are not counted toward that cap and are additive. There are already 1500 homes planned east of Deer Park (900 in Sequim/Carlsborg + 600 Seabrook) going through permitting. These additional homes will help spread the property tax burden to more people and allow the County to collect more than 1% growth (assuming we stop taking other properties off the tax roles!).
Agreed, Steven. The County should be looking for ways to streanline their operations instead of expanding "services" to people who are not affected, and contribute nothing to R.E. taxes, with the exception of receiving more "free stuff". Many homes/properties in Clallam County are either exempt or have significant reductions in property taxes, which those who do pay full taxes, pay for those reductions and exemptions for others... and they speak of "equity"(out-of- context0, replacing the correct word, equality. Equity is earned, not granted, yet they continue with their shell game with words and terms. The Department of the Interior, et al., also play the same game every time they(we) purchase property and buildings within Olympic National Park, which are removed from the tax rolls and assigned to property/homeowners who do pay R.E. taxes. The sellers have the option to lease the home/cabin back from DOI, tax free, for the rest of their lives. A sweet deal for those who live on some of the most expensive properties in the county.
Looking for a bloated ego of second homes to bail out tax impact, is the worst reason ever to add a Seabrook-like development. The small tax gain will not off-set the wear-tear on infrastructure.
I fell asleep again did he say anything besides 1 percent is 3 ?. $1.50 per $1,000 seems like enough in a balanced budget! When a politician( fire dept) passes all 4 parts of the CPA exam. Increase of 35 percent.
What I am looking for is Clallam County to stop underperforming. Job growth, wage growth, housing growth, school enrollment and outcomes, crime, drugs, sales tax collections, and much more. Our economy has been so stagnant that I think we have actually seen a decline in real, inflation adjusted, GDP. See my presentation here where I compare Clallam to ten or so other counties, and PA/Sequim to a dozen other cities. https://youtu.be/lRHz9qEJmuQ We can't tax or shrink our way to prosperity. If we can't cut costs, then growth is the only answer. Please send me your research and analysis.
Thank you Jeff for the podcast with Commissioner Miano. Informative and I very much appreciate your steadfast commitment to transparency. I listen to your daily podcasts and each one provides an insight on what's going on in Clallam County government. Thank you!!!
Thanks, Jeff...perfect timing! I was just sitting here doing my homework with my ballot in hand. I am listening to the Hospital District #2 forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. If anybody else wants to listen and learn, here is the link...
You win the gold star for "engaged voter" today! This interview about CCFD#3 was important to Commissioner Bill Miano, and he made sure to set aside time to do it. He is the reason this happened.
What a great interview! So informative & can I just say I LOVE THIS GUY!!! He’s engaging, he’s honest & he explains the whole complicated web of what is all involved throughout the entire fire district & I’m just so impressed
Finally getting to the bottom of my email and needed to listen to this. I've cast my vote but not mailed yet and I didn't really understand the explanation in the booklet. I voted yes for the simple reason that my once beautiful forested surroundings are suffering from lack of water and this is my district. Won't be voting the same for the water steward position. I know that's a waste of money because no county employee will hold sway over the Space Command operations and those operations are the reason we no longer have bountiful water in our aquifers. What a can of worms! Thank you for doing this interview. I feel better about paying taxes this year. N.
I am thankful for the great work done by our firemen. That said I feel I am already bled far too much. Smaller staff, less hours, no new equipment, whatever; but enough - - - please.
FYI, ultimately the County Commissioner (Mark Ozias) representing the area the fire district is in, is responsible if the fire district board doesn’t do their jobs, and then it’s the Governor per rcw 42.12.080 (5) If a governing body fails to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy, the authority of the governing body to fill the vacancy shall cease and the county legislative authority of the county in which all or the largest geographic portion of the special purpose district is located shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.
This RCW only applies if there is a vacancy created on the Board of Fire Commissioners due to resignation, removal, or death during an elected term. The County Commissioners and/or Governor only get involved if the remaining Fire Board members do not appoint someone to finish the term.
Yes, and ultimately the hierarchical structure from bottom up is the registered voters in the geographical area of the specific district who vote to form the district with the permission of the city/county they are positioned in, then the commission board is formed by individuals who then represent and live within the district boundaries. That smaller district board falls under the county (commissioners) and the county under the state (governor), so if there are issues with the smaller district then the next level district is responsible for helping to resolve those issues specific to that context and with consideration for the multitude of laws, regulations and other authorities (I.e. emergency management, healthcare, national security, etc). Does that make sense? Something I think is missing in the discourse around taxes and resources is understanding that the business model of “government” especially local government is the Voters. As an elected public servant we need to emphasize the “servant” aspect of the position. We are elected by the people for the people, not for the employees, all though the employees can be our constituents too, the priority is the customers who are the voters, right? The service the specific district provides is for the residents or visitors within the geographical area, and the employees of that district make those services happen. What private businesses within your district aren’t subsidized somehow by “the government”? For example, in my district a local small business hair dresser might think their revenue is completely privately earned, but with just one separation from their financial transactions with their customers is “government” funding. Meaning where does this Hairdressers customers get their money to pay her? Based on our demographics it’s most likely from a paycheck from the school district, the hospital district, the prison, the county, the city, the transit/bus, social security, etc. even the private sector is receiving grants from the government to stay viable. It’s a snake eating its tail, how do we shift from this ever increasing compulsion (consumer) tax based economy to a voluntary trade (creation) growth based sustainable economy?
Given the success of podcasts during the presidential election, I would love to see more elected officials embrace this long-form and interactive format. I can sympathize with the need for public safety. However, our property taxes have grown at a 9% annual rate for the past five years - far above inflation. I am tired of seeing my personal expenses grow significantly faster than my own wages. I am cutting back and living on my savings accounts. I don't see the County also tightening its belt. As a reminder, property tax collections can grow faster than the 1% cap as new housing builds are not counted toward that cap and are additive. There are already 1500 homes planned east of Deer Park (900 in Sequim/Carlsborg + 600 Seabrook) going through permitting. These additional homes will help spread the property tax burden to more people and allow the County to collect more than 1% growth (assuming we stop taking other properties off the tax roles!).
Agreed, Steven. The County should be looking for ways to streanline their operations instead of expanding "services" to people who are not affected, and contribute nothing to R.E. taxes, with the exception of receiving more "free stuff". Many homes/properties in Clallam County are either exempt or have significant reductions in property taxes, which those who do pay full taxes, pay for those reductions and exemptions for others... and they speak of "equity"(out-of- context0, replacing the correct word, equality. Equity is earned, not granted, yet they continue with their shell game with words and terms. The Department of the Interior, et al., also play the same game every time they(we) purchase property and buildings within Olympic National Park, which are removed from the tax rolls and assigned to property/homeowners who do pay R.E. taxes. The sellers have the option to lease the home/cabin back from DOI, tax free, for the rest of their lives. A sweet deal for those who live on some of the most expensive properties in the county.
Looking for a bloated ego of second homes to bail out tax impact, is the worst reason ever to add a Seabrook-like development. The small tax gain will not off-set the wear-tear on infrastructure.
I fell asleep again did he say anything besides 1 percent is 3 ?. $1.50 per $1,000 seems like enough in a balanced budget! When a politician( fire dept) passes all 4 parts of the CPA exam. Increase of 35 percent.
What I am looking for is Clallam County to stop underperforming. Job growth, wage growth, housing growth, school enrollment and outcomes, crime, drugs, sales tax collections, and much more. Our economy has been so stagnant that I think we have actually seen a decline in real, inflation adjusted, GDP. See my presentation here where I compare Clallam to ten or so other counties, and PA/Sequim to a dozen other cities. https://youtu.be/lRHz9qEJmuQ We can't tax or shrink our way to prosperity. If we can't cut costs, then growth is the only answer. Please send me your research and analysis.
Thank you Jeff for the podcast with Commissioner Miano. Informative and I very much appreciate your steadfast commitment to transparency. I listen to your daily podcasts and each one provides an insight on what's going on in Clallam County government. Thank you!!!
Thank you Jeff, it was a pleasure having this discussion with you.
Thanks, Jeff...perfect timing! I was just sitting here doing my homework with my ballot in hand. I am listening to the Hospital District #2 forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. If anybody else wants to listen and learn, here is the link...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z29Q7zECkmA
You win the gold star for "engaged voter" today! This interview about CCFD#3 was important to Commissioner Bill Miano, and he made sure to set aside time to do it. He is the reason this happened.
We thank both you and Bill for taking the time to assist us voters in making informed decisions...so very much appreciated!
What a great interview! So informative & can I just say I LOVE THIS GUY!!! He’s engaging, he’s honest & he explains the whole complicated web of what is all involved throughout the entire fire district & I’m just so impressed
Finally getting to the bottom of my email and needed to listen to this. I've cast my vote but not mailed yet and I didn't really understand the explanation in the booklet. I voted yes for the simple reason that my once beautiful forested surroundings are suffering from lack of water and this is my district. Won't be voting the same for the water steward position. I know that's a waste of money because no county employee will hold sway over the Space Command operations and those operations are the reason we no longer have bountiful water in our aquifers. What a can of worms! Thank you for doing this interview. I feel better about paying taxes this year. N.
I am thankful for the great work done by our firemen. That said I feel I am already bled far too much. Smaller staff, less hours, no new equipment, whatever; but enough - - - please.
Sheesh...Maybe next time ask how they pick the truck colors...
This is why accountants eat lunch alone. Yawn……
FYI, ultimately the County Commissioner (Mark Ozias) representing the area the fire district is in, is responsible if the fire district board doesn’t do their jobs, and then it’s the Governor per rcw 42.12.080 (5) If a governing body fails to appoint a qualified person to fill a vacancy within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy, the authority of the governing body to fill the vacancy shall cease and the county legislative authority of the county in which all or the largest geographic portion of the special purpose district is located shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.12.080
This RCW only applies if there is a vacancy created on the Board of Fire Commissioners due to resignation, removal, or death during an elected term. The County Commissioners and/or Governor only get involved if the remaining Fire Board members do not appoint someone to finish the term.
Yes, and ultimately the hierarchical structure from bottom up is the registered voters in the geographical area of the specific district who vote to form the district with the permission of the city/county they are positioned in, then the commission board is formed by individuals who then represent and live within the district boundaries. That smaller district board falls under the county (commissioners) and the county under the state (governor), so if there are issues with the smaller district then the next level district is responsible for helping to resolve those issues specific to that context and with consideration for the multitude of laws, regulations and other authorities (I.e. emergency management, healthcare, national security, etc). Does that make sense? Something I think is missing in the discourse around taxes and resources is understanding that the business model of “government” especially local government is the Voters. As an elected public servant we need to emphasize the “servant” aspect of the position. We are elected by the people for the people, not for the employees, all though the employees can be our constituents too, the priority is the customers who are the voters, right? The service the specific district provides is for the residents or visitors within the geographical area, and the employees of that district make those services happen. What private businesses within your district aren’t subsidized somehow by “the government”? For example, in my district a local small business hair dresser might think their revenue is completely privately earned, but with just one separation from their financial transactions with their customers is “government” funding. Meaning where does this Hairdressers customers get their money to pay her? Based on our demographics it’s most likely from a paycheck from the school district, the hospital district, the prison, the county, the city, the transit/bus, social security, etc. even the private sector is receiving grants from the government to stay viable. It’s a snake eating its tail, how do we shift from this ever increasing compulsion (consumer) tax based economy to a voluntary trade (creation) growth based sustainable economy?