Monday, January 30th, 2017

To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to the media, house & senate members, and Governor, and other candidates for office)

From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, Fighting for Taxpayers for 18 years, 425-493-9127, tim_eyman@comcast.net, www.VotersWantMoreChoices.com

RE: Our initiative for 2017: property taxes aren't fair -- our initiative makes them fairer

For nearly two decades, we've been listening to our thousands of supporters and average taxpayers repeatedly complain about the extreme unfairness of property taxes. Property taxes impose tremendous burdens and pressures on struggling working families and small businesses whether they own or rent. If they own property, their mortgage payments are incredibly high because of their own crushing property tax burden. And if they rent, they face skyrocketing rent costs because they're forced to pay their landlords' sky-high property taxes. And because costly property taxes that are imposed on businesses simply get passed on to their customers, all of us face the injustice of unfair property taxes.

It's only right for property taxes to be fair.

For the past year, Jack, Mike, and I have worked really hard to design an initiative that'll make property taxes fairer. So we are very proud to announce today the Property Tax Fairness Initiative.

The Property Tax Fairness Initiative is all about making property taxes fairer.

The Property Tax Fairness Initiative makes property taxes fairer by providing a meaningful, permanent 25% across-the-board reduction in the property tax burden (voter-approved levies, including local school levies, are not affected). There's clearly a problem. Property taxes have skyrocketed: in 1980, property tax revenues were $1 billion. In 2016, they hit $10 billion, a 10-fold increase (see Dept of Revenue graph below). Taxpayers need a break:

The Property Tax Fairness Initiative makes property taxes fairer by closing loopholes in the 1% property tax cap. Initiative 1550 caps property tax increases at 1% per year. If governments want more than that, the only way is by asking voters' permission at the ballot box (and only at a high turnout general election).

The Property Tax Fairness Initiative makes property taxes fairer by eliminating the personal property tax. When you buy personal property and pay sales taxes on it, it's not fair to have it be double- or triple-taxed with a recurring, burdensome personal property tax too. Our initiative ends that unfairness.

Voters support these policies BIG TIME - check out these strong results on its' official ballot title (Letter From Attorney General of Washington):

The initiative concerns state and local property taxes. Here is the ballot title: This measure would annually set regular property tax levies, except voter-approved levies, at 25% below the amount otherwise allowed; limit property tax increases to 1% unless voter-approved; and eliminate certain personal property taxes. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose this initiative?

• 35% Strongly support > 63% yes
• 28% Somewhat support >
• 13% Somewhat oppose > 26% no
• 13% Strongly oppose >
• 12% Not sure > 12% not sure

You can read the initiative's complete text here

The Property Tax Fairness Initiative is a bold, exciting proposal that clearly has solid voter support.

We've been doing initiatives for 18 years. We are fully aware of all the challenges before us, but there's actually only one thing that really matters:

Does the Property Tax Fairness Initiative get your blood pumping? Does it float your boat? Do you like it and support it? Are you willing to donate dollars and solicit signatures for it?

We're moving full steam ahead. We have from now until early July -- 5 months or roughly 150 days -- to collect over 300,000 voter signatures!! It's a huge undertaking but the benefits ... oh my goodness, the benefits are overwhelmingly positive.

We've proven that through persistence and hard work, we can accomplish anything when we work together.

If you like our efforts and support the Property Tax Fairness Initiative, please send us a donation for $50, $100, $250, $500, $1000, $2500, $5000 or more (there are no limits on how much can be given). Fill out the form , and return it with your check or credit card info – OR, you can click here to donate now by PayPal/VISA/MC. Either way, please send in your most generous contribution TODAY.

We’ve done so many amazing things over the past 18 years, but that's only been possible thanks to successful benefactors like you. We ask you to please help us help taxpayers.

Please donate TODAY

Thank you,

Sincerely, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, fighting for taxpayers for 18 years, 425.493.9127

P.S. There are thousands of politicians, bureaucrats, lobbyists, and special interest groups working each and every day to raise your taxes. Shouldn't there be at least one person, one team, one organization that fights to lower your taxes? Please help us so we can continue our successful efforts on behalf of taxpayers.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Benjamin Franklin