Taxes and current legislation
Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 8:37 amI wrote my three state reps concerning several budgeting issues. I got one response, so I thought I would share.
My original e-mail is at the bottom.
L8R
Dan
**********************************
Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your message regarding tax systems and funding streams in our state's budget. I appreciated hearing from you on this important issue.
As you know, our state continues to struggle in the aftermath of the recession, and the legislature now faces the task of addressing a $1.7 billion shortfall in the operating budget. Over the past 3 years, approximately $10 billion in cuts have been made. Those cuts have been made to programs and agencies across the state. These cuts are hitting many important programs and are being made even as caseloads increase.
The proposal by Representative Reykdal and Senator Frockt is one of many to address the other side of the balance sheet. I believe that we must commit to an open dialogue about tax reform as well as government reform in our state. We also need to thoroughly vet all cut, reform and revenue proposals to ensure their long-term effectiveness in addressing the challenges of our state.
I often hear from education advocates who are disappointed with the treatment of lottery funds. Many lottery dollars remain dedicated to education construction projects as well as higher education programs. I also received many emails from constituents expressing their frustration regarding recreational fishing funds in the Governor's budget, and have received clarifications on the shift. While the shift in funds does come out of the State Wildlife Fund into which fishing licenses and other fees are paid, it is not actually a shift of those dollars. The $1.5 million shift would actually come from a State Wildlife Fund sub-account fund balance related to WDFW's WILD online license system - specifically from penalties paid by the current vendor operating the system for not meeting requirements to improve it. $1.5 million represents approximately half of that fund balance. The money is not coming directly from recreational fishing or hunting permit fees. While I understand your concerns surrounding the use of recreational fees for commercial benefits, it is important to note two things: first, this proposal was not part of the supplemental budget passed by the legislature during the special session; and, second, this is not actually a shift from recreational to commercial.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I value the input that I receive and hope you will continue to share your views with me.
Regards,
Kristine
Representative Kristine Lytton
40th District
Serving San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom Counties
p 360.786.7800
e kristine.lytton@leg.wa.gov
Click here to sign up for our email updates or copy and paste the link below:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/me ... ber=lytton
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 7:49 AM
To: Lytton, Rep. Kristine
Cc: Morris, Rep. Jeff; Ranker, Sen. Kevin
Subject: Constituent: State Budget
HOUSE INTERNET E-MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE
SENATE INTERNET E-MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE
TO: Representative Kristine Lytton
CC: Representative Jeff Morris
Senator Kevin Ranker
FROM: Daniel Carney(Constituent)
SUBJECT: State Budget
MESSAGE:
I am writing to let you know of my displeasure with Sen. Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater, and Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, co-sponsored Higher Opportunity Promise for Education Act. While I do think public education should be fully funded, I am extremely upset with the budgeting process. If you will remember,when voters approved the Lottery in this state one of the main tenets was that it was going to provide additional funding for schools. Where has that money been diverted to? I suspect it has been moved to support unfunded entitlement programs and left our children short. Additional efforts are in effect to take money from recreational fish and game programs to support commercial fishing and other unintended endeavors. I am asking you to take a serious look at which programs don't have their own "original" funding streams and cut those. Our state government needs to quit "Stealing" from the people of the state to support thier own pet projects. Quit adding gas taxes, tocabbo and alcohol taxes, water bottle taxes and other burdens on the citizens and cut unfunded programs.
Thank you.
My original e-mail is at the bottom.
L8R
Dan
**********************************
Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your message regarding tax systems and funding streams in our state's budget. I appreciated hearing from you on this important issue.
As you know, our state continues to struggle in the aftermath of the recession, and the legislature now faces the task of addressing a $1.7 billion shortfall in the operating budget. Over the past 3 years, approximately $10 billion in cuts have been made. Those cuts have been made to programs and agencies across the state. These cuts are hitting many important programs and are being made even as caseloads increase.
The proposal by Representative Reykdal and Senator Frockt is one of many to address the other side of the balance sheet. I believe that we must commit to an open dialogue about tax reform as well as government reform in our state. We also need to thoroughly vet all cut, reform and revenue proposals to ensure their long-term effectiveness in addressing the challenges of our state.
I often hear from education advocates who are disappointed with the treatment of lottery funds. Many lottery dollars remain dedicated to education construction projects as well as higher education programs. I also received many emails from constituents expressing their frustration regarding recreational fishing funds in the Governor's budget, and have received clarifications on the shift. While the shift in funds does come out of the State Wildlife Fund into which fishing licenses and other fees are paid, it is not actually a shift of those dollars. The $1.5 million shift would actually come from a State Wildlife Fund sub-account fund balance related to WDFW's WILD online license system - specifically from penalties paid by the current vendor operating the system for not meeting requirements to improve it. $1.5 million represents approximately half of that fund balance. The money is not coming directly from recreational fishing or hunting permit fees. While I understand your concerns surrounding the use of recreational fees for commercial benefits, it is important to note two things: first, this proposal was not part of the supplemental budget passed by the legislature during the special session; and, second, this is not actually a shift from recreational to commercial.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I value the input that I receive and hope you will continue to share your views with me.
Regards,
Kristine
Representative Kristine Lytton
40th District
Serving San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom Counties
p 360.786.7800
e kristine.lytton@leg.wa.gov
Click here to sign up for our email updates or copy and paste the link below:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/me ... ber=lytton
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 7:49 AM
To: Lytton, Rep. Kristine
Cc: Morris, Rep. Jeff; Ranker, Sen. Kevin
Subject: Constituent: State Budget
HOUSE INTERNET E-MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE
SENATE INTERNET E-MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE
TO: Representative Kristine Lytton
CC: Representative Jeff Morris
Senator Kevin Ranker
FROM: Daniel Carney(Constituent)
SUBJECT: State Budget
MESSAGE:
I am writing to let you know of my displeasure with Sen. Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater, and Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle, co-sponsored Higher Opportunity Promise for Education Act. While I do think public education should be fully funded, I am extremely upset with the budgeting process. If you will remember,when voters approved the Lottery in this state one of the main tenets was that it was going to provide additional funding for schools. Where has that money been diverted to? I suspect it has been moved to support unfunded entitlement programs and left our children short. Additional efforts are in effect to take money from recreational fish and game programs to support commercial fishing and other unintended endeavors. I am asking you to take a serious look at which programs don't have their own "original" funding streams and cut those. Our state government needs to quit "Stealing" from the people of the state to support thier own pet projects. Quit adding gas taxes, tocabbo and alcohol taxes, water bottle taxes and other burdens on the citizens and cut unfunded programs.
Thank you.