Low Budget Sign                                                       High Budget Sign (sort of)

I got an email from Joe Sutton just this last week on the issue of the Sno-Isle Library, as I am sure many of you did. If not read on.

From: Joe Sutton
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 9:54 AM
To: Joe Sutton
Subject: Library ballot titles are here … and missing some important information

** PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW THAT LIVES IN THE LAKE STEVENS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND ESPECIALLY TO CITY RESIDENTS **

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

Library ballots are here and I wanted to touch bases with everyone to make sure you are aware of an important fact – the ballot title is missing some important information. Here is the ballot title:

“Shall the City of Lake Stevens be annexed to and be a part of the Sno-Isle Intercounty Rural Library District?”

Nowhere is there any mention or indication of the significant NEW property tax that will be assessed if this annexation is approved by voters. I don’t know how the city can get away with this or if it is even legal, but I believe it is dishonest at best for them to leave this information off the ballot.

Be aware that if this is approved, you will have the exact library you have today (the small structure in downtown), but you will have additional, new property taxes as follows:

Home value New property tax

$200K =$63
$300K =$94
$400K =$125
$500K =$157
$600K =$187
$700K =$219
$800K =$250
(add $31.30 for each additional $100K of assessed value)

Also be aware that YOU ALREADY PAY PROPERTY TAXES TO THE CITY WHICH ARE USED FOR THE LIBRARY. This vote will establish a NEW TAX paid to Sno-Isle for the operating the current library. The city is KEEPING YOUR EXISTING LIBRARY TAXES AND SPENDING THEM ELSEWHERE. This is about $500,000 in taxes for all city residents for library operations.

Also, the city and Sno-Isle will ask all citizens within the School district boundaries for ANOTHER TAX INCREASE NEXT YEAR to build a huge/new library as part of the new civic center project they are planning. Based on recent new libraries in Snohomish and Arlington, each of you could be paying hundreds of additional property tax dollars for that building.

Library cards sure are getting expensive these days.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT: If the citizens say ‘NO’ to the annexation and the new library tax, the LIBRARY WILL NOT CLOSE. City officials will need to keep to their responsibility of managing the city budget in such a way to pay for the items that are a PRIORTY. Each of us must manage our family budget carefully each month, so it is very reasonable to expect the city to continue to do the same. If they need additional taxes for ‘new’ spending, then I am sure you agree they should ask us in a separate vote if we are willing to fund those with new taxes.

Please forward this email to anyone you know that lives in the Lake Stevens school district. If you live outside the city limits, this will affect you next year because you will be also be asked to help pay for the new library building.

Thanks for paying attention and don’t forget to fill out your ballot and mail it back in by May 20. If you need a stamp, I will gladly provide one free of charge! If you don’t vote, you can’t complain! (and that is the half the fun)

Best wishes,

Joe Sutton

P.S. Please enjoy the email I sent to the city council and the mayor below.

From: Joe Sutton
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 8:58 AM
To: hcoleman@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us,ndooley@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us,squigley@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us,
kholder@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us,thartwell@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us,little@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us,janb@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us,
jspencer@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us,msomers@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us
Cc: Mary Kelly
Subject: Library ballot title is incomplete

Dear members of the Lake Stevens city government,

I received my ballot today for voting on the library annexation to Sno-Isle and all I see is the following:

“Shall the City of Lake Stevens be annexed to and be a part of the Sno-Isle Intercounty Rural Library District?”

Nowhere is there any mention or indication of the significant NEW property tax that will be assessed if this move is approved by voters. I don’t know how you can get away with this or if it is even legal, but I believe it is dishonest at best to leave this information off the ballot.

I believe this omission was intentional and part of a carefully crafted plan by the city and Sno-Isle to sneak a tax increase past un-informed voters. As a voter, the ballot title SOUNDS like an OK idea until you understand the facts that:

1) We already pay a library tax as part of our city property tax – the city is keeping those taxes (a stealth tax increase)
2) Our high property taxes will go even higher with our ‘double’ library tax, but we don’t get any new or improved library services – we get exactly the same for a whole lot more money (we will be asked to pay more taxes in the future for a new building).

I am sure you understood that a large number of voters would not be able to attend the public meetings to discuss this item and that many of them would not get the needed information from newspapers, etc. I am sure you crafted the ballot title without the mention of the new tax understanding that many voters would say ‘yes’ who otherwise would not if the information on the new tax was clearly described.

It is no wonder that voters/citizens are skeptical of and do not trust our civic officials at times. This whole ‘new library tax’ scenario and vote is a prime example of why they do not.

Once again I implore you to ‘do the right thing’: If this ballot measure passes, immediately reduce the city property tax by the exact amount of the library spending that is moving ‘off budget’. Give citizens their money back … it is their money - originally provided to you for library services.

If you need additional ‘revenue’ for a civic center, parks, staffing, sidewalks or anything else, and if new taxes are needed, then bring that need to the citizens of the city and let them help decide if they are important enough to raise their taxes. Put these new spending items to a VOTE OF THE PEOPLE (with clear, complete ballot titles). Property taxes are extremely high and new taxes should be decided by a ballot - not in a small, sparsely attended public meetings which very few citizens can practically attend.

In doing so, you will regain the trust and respect of many citizen voters by giving them a choice and a voice.

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts,

An overtaxed and very concerned city property owner,

Joe Sutton
10724 Vernon Road

Last Summer in July 2007, I went to D.C. and had the chance to look around the nation’s capital.  Visiting Ford’s Theater was on the top of my list.  After attending the lecture given at the theater of Lincoln’s fateful night, I walked outside and was fascinated by the Waffle Shop across the street.  The Waffle Shop is next the boarding house that Lincoln died in.

Due to my love for artistic lettering (Typography) and the craftsmanship of the sign I took several photographs.  I remember being disappointed at the time because it was closed and I wanted to try the little diner.

I am so glad to hear that the Waffle Shop is now labeled “Historic” and preserved from demolition.

Waffle Shop–Building Preserved, Waffles Not (Yet)

 By Marc Fisher, The Washington Post, April 4, 2008

The Waffle Shop, the classic 1950s breakfast spot on 10th Street NW across from Ford’s Theater, served its last waffles (and its last Chinese lunches) last September, but in the battle over just how historic the eatery really is, the District’s historic preservation board has now concluded that both the exterior and interior of the place must be spared from demolition.

At the request of a coaltion of D.C. preservation groups, the city review board decided last week to declare the Waffle Shop a landmark. What good does this do now that the restaurant is no more? Well, it may mean that the diner will one day reopen, somewhere, most likely not at its current location.

. . . It would be a shame to see the building preserved without the business returning to life. But downtown could sure use a decent breakfast place that doesn’t involve white tablecloths and the forking over of a credit card.

Go the the Washington Post article.

By Ann Levin, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The overheated New York real estate market has claimed another classic diner.

The Cheyenne Diner, a railway car-inspired eatery down the street from Penn Station, will serve its last meal Sunday.

Restaurant owner Spiro Kasimis is closing the establishment after 19 years, narrowing the inexpensive dining options on the rapidly redeveloping blocks of Manhattan’s west side.

“Everybody wants to build. They want to make money,” said his wife, Angie Kasimis, when asked why the diner was closing.

Landlord George Papas, who owns the Skylight diner around the corner, said he plans to put up a nine-story commercial and residential building on the skinny parcel of land.

Go to the Associated Press article.

While browsing stories I have come across this interesting article. Check out the posts left by the city’s residents ~ Sound Familiar?

Drive-In Owner Fears Tax Bill

By Jeff Swiatek, The Indianapolis Star

Marion County’s only remaining drive-in theater might close if it can’t lower the 155-percent jump in its property tax assessed value, says Tibbs Drive In owner Ed Quilling. The new assessment could hike his property tax bill to over $75,000, which he can’t afford on the modest revenues the drive-in generates, he says.

If a planned appeal of his assessment fails to lower it, “this will be the last year” for the Westside drive-in, Quilling says.

The recently completed countywide reassessment hiked the value of the drive-in’s land and buildings to $1.2 million. Quilling said he doesn’t know why the assessment shot up so much.

“It’s a little off-the-wall,” he said.

The drive-in at 480 S Tibbs Ave, opened for the season last weekend. Quilling said he tries to offer affordable family entertainment, with a ticket price for a double feature set at $9.

Go to IndyStar.com

Once forced into a ditch, the stream near Lake Stevens is again lined with plants and full of fish.

By Jeff Switzer, Herald Writer

LAKE STEVENS — The air is sweeter along Lundeen Creek these days as thousands of plants take root in one of Snohomish County’s most distinctive restoration projects.

“It’s kind of refreshing out here, better than the chlorine air I usually breathe,” said 16-year-old Nathan Schaffer of Marysville.

Schaffer joined his Mighty Marlins swim team last weekend to help put in hundreds of new plants along the creek’s route.

Supporters celebrated substantial completion of the nearly $750,000 restoration project, paid for by the county and the city of Lake Stevens.

Go to the Everett Herald Article.