2.20.18
Suggested lead:
Sponsors of new state budget
released in Olympia Tuesday say it’ll give taxpayers a billion-dollar break. Dan
Frizzell has more.
Wrap (:68 total):
The new Democratic majority in the
Legislature this year promised to put people first, and they say the two-year
supplemental budget proposed by House leaders is exhibit A. A key feature in the
spending plan will certainly be the billion-dollar reduction in the massive
property tax hikes that were pushed through last year by Senate Republican
leaders, who have since been relegated to minority status.
Those tax bills are just showing up in mailboxes around the state this
month, and taxpayers aren’t happy. Representative Kristine Lytton chairs the
House Finance Committee, and she says the solution is simple.
LYTTON:
“This is all
about property tax relief for people in our state. Every single property
taxpayer in our state will see a reduction. Our caucus is very focused on
reducing property taxes this year.” [:12]
In addition
to emergency property tax relief, the Democratic proposal invests almost half a
billion dollars in K-12 education, beefs up mental-health and college financial
aid programs, and strengthens the social safety net. In a final bit of good news
for deficit hawks, the House budget balances over the next four years and leaves
a one-point-six billion dollar nest egg in reserves. In Olympia, I’m Dan
Frizzell.