Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Council plans to give developers a huge tax break for affordable housing
Does Gig Harbor need some affordable housing? Yes.
Should growth pay for growth. Yes, it should.
At the April 28 Council meeting Ordinance #1542 was introduced. This ordinance will establish a Multifamily Property Tax Exemption. When this bill passes, developers will not be paying any Gig Harbor residential property taxes on their affordable housing for 12 years.
Property taxes go into our general fund, and our general fund needs money. For 12 years developers will not be paying residential property taxes. The city says property taxes will still need to be collected somehow. That somehow means that Gig Harbor citizens will be paying those property taxes that wealthy developers don’t want to pay.
During the public comment portion of this proposed ordinance, a former employee from Olympic Property Group commented that developers are chomping at the bit to use this property tax exemption ordinance to build in our hometown.
Time, after time we have seen wealthy developers walk out of our hometown with their pockets bulging full of money and leaving citizens to pay for developer impacts to Gig Harbor.
Gig Harbor citizens are kind. We are compassionate neighbors helping those in our community who need help. The city has a reduced utility rate for those who need help. The result is a small amount of their bill is divided amongst the rest of us to help our neighbors in financial need. These are neighbors needing help. You will never see a developer in our food bank. Yet through this ordinance it is possible food bank visitors would be required to pay fees wealthy developers won’t.
In addition to not paying property taxes for developers, there is discussion about developers not paying for residential utility hookups. If developers don’t pay for utility hookups, someone will need to pay those fees. That someone is you.
Today folks are concerned about their jobs, childcare, health insurance, retirement plans, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and what these new tariffs will mean for the cost of groceries, etc. The city has been told that 1/3 of our city seniors are underwater with their housing costs. Some seniors are paying too much for their housing. Growth needs to pay for growth and should not be on the backs of struggling citizens.
The city will tell you these are state unfunded mandates. The tyrannical Department of Commerce has unlimited power to enforce these mandates. Citizens pay property taxes, sales taxes, etc and those funds are supposed to come to our General Fund. The Department of Commerce has the power to withhold these funds if Gig Harbor citizens do not pay these fees for developers. Holding our citizens hostage is unconscionable.
In a city that is 6 ½ square miles, perhaps it is time to say residential developer property tax exemptions and fees regarding affordable housing are restricted to 1 parcel only. This action requires a council with the courage to protect our citizens and implement policies requiring growth pays for growth.
City Council elections are this year. Five city council seats and 1 mayoral seat are up for election. Filing dates are May 5-9. At the City Council meeting on May 12 the property tax exemption ordinance will come back to council for a vote. It will pass.
The 2018 Council made a lot of citizen requested amendments to our development codes. Those amendments slowed growth and made sure the infrastructure got a chance to catch up to impacts of over development. The 2018 council eliminated Development Agreements, special deals between developers and the city to increase density. Sadly, the 2018 citizen inspired regulations will be overturned this year.
Elections have consequences. In these financially insecure times voters have the opportunity to elect council members who will put the citizens of Gig Harbor first. Growth should pay for growth.
For 7 ½ years the greatest honor of my life has been to represent your voice with my vote. It is with great love I am caregiver for my sweet hubby. I will not be running for reelection this year. My seat is open and our hometown needs you.
Your friend and public servant,
Jeni Woock
Gig Harbor City Council Member, position 1