‘Why are we exporting billions of dollars around the state?’ The coming showdown over Seattle’s money (Yakima: taxes, living)

[homesinseattle]

My main man Seacove posted this, it definitely deserves its own thread: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...e%20subscriber

[Seacove]

I agree and here’s the point:

Punch line: The entire state is mooching off King County, not the other way around.

It turns out King County taxpayers exported a record $2.95 billion to prop up the state’s other counties in 2016, the most recent year studied, according to OFM. About 37 cents of every dollar of state taxes paid by King County taxpayers was spent elsewhere.


In all there are 33 counties that pay less than they get, and supposed leech King County provides 97% of the money boosting those counties.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...eattles-money/

The biggest recipient? Pierce county followed by Yakima.

[rjshae]

True for the state on the national level as well.

https://www.governing.com/week-in-fi...-get-back.html
https://www.voanews.com/usa/all-abou...more-they-give

We just have some wealthy people living here.

[CrazyDonkey]

I'm not in favor of eastern Washington becoming a new state, in that it would add two more conservative U.S. Senators, but if they want to join Idaho, they're welcome to it - it would be a burden off our back.

[pnwguy2]

When dollars get spread around the State, everyone wins. Eastern Washington pays the same taxes as Western Washington. When the economy of Eastern Washington is performing well, it helps the entire State. Additionally, the agriculture and energy sectors help the Western half. The theme that the Eastern half is not important, is complete B.S.

[Danbo1957]

For those who live in metropolitan counties, where do you think think you food comes from?


Exactly.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by Danbo1957

For those who live in metropolitan counties, where do you think think you food comes from?

Exactly.

Is the food free? No, it's not. They grow food for profit and everyone pays for it the same way they would pay for the food grown anywhere in the world. In fact, after all the subsidies, tariff relief and Western Washington tax contributions happen, an apple probably costs about twenty-five dollars. Western Washington could just as easily import food or grow their food locally and perhaps it would be cheaper.

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

When dollars get spread around the State, everyone wins. Eastern Washington pays the same taxes as Western Washington. When the economy of Eastern Washington is performing well, it helps the entire State. Additionally, the agriculture and energy sectors help the Western half. The theme that the Eastern half is not important, is complete B.S.

Everyone does not win when Eastern Washington decides to "stick it to Seattle" by voting away Seattle's right to tax themselves to solve mass transit challenges. That article addresses the hypocrisy. People outside of King County say "we don't want to pay for Seattle" and reality is, King County funds the entire state. They give them money for roads they will never drive on. Pierce is the biggest taker and Yakima is right behind them followed by 33 other counties. King county didn't start this argument but if the other counties want to have that discussion, we should definitely have it and perhaps come to an agreement that each county pay their own bills. Take that same money going to those other counties, keep it in King County and King County's mass transit goals could be addressed.

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Originally Posted by Seacove

Is the food free? No, it's not. They grow food for profit and everyone pays for it the same way they would pay for the food grown anywhere in the world. In fact, after all the subsidies, tariff relief and Western Washington tax contributions happen, an apple probably costs about twenty-five dollars. Western Washington could just as easily import food or grow their food locally and perhaps it would be cheaper.



Everyone does not win when Eastern Washington decides to "stick it to Seattle" by voting away Seattle's right to tax themselves to solve mass transit challenges. That article addresses the hypocrisy. People outside of King County say "we don't want to pay for Seattle" and reality is, King County funds the entire state. They give them money for roads they will never drive on. Pierce is the biggest taker and Yakima is right behind them followed by 33 other counties. King county didn't start this argument but if the other counties want to have that discussion, we should definitely have it and perhaps come to an agreement that each county pay their own bills. Take that same money going to those other counties, keep it in King County and King County's mass transit goals could be addressed.

This makes no sense. If Seattle wants to tax themselves-they can readily do so by raising city taxes to fund MT. Or they could do the sensible thing (yeah, I know, that won't happen) and increase mass transit fares to the point that the system is self-supporting.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

This makes no sense. If Seattle wants to tax themselves-they can readily do so by raising city taxes to fund MT. Or they could do the sensible thing (yeah, I know, that won't happen) and increase mass transit fares to the point that the system is self-supporting.

The rest of the state can pay for their own infrastructure. Then Seattle will have plenty of money. And Pierce should get cut out of ST3 and only keep the mass transit they themselves can pay for. Mass transit helps everyone. The fewer cars on the road, the easier it is for everyone to get where they are going. Not something a resident of a largely rural state might understand but the Seattle metro has about two and a half times the population of the entire state of Idaho and people keep moving here. This is not going to get easier with time. Infrastructure needs to be built and Seattle would be able to pay for it themselves if they weren’t sending so much money to 33 other counties. Pierce alone is getting half a billion from King County.

[Transmition]

Originally Posted by Danbo1957

For those who live in metropolitan counties, where do you think think you food comes from?

Who do you think buys the food?