Washington Simple Majority Vote Required to Approve Excess School Tax Levies, HJR 4204 (2007)
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The ballot measure created an amendment to the state constitution, providing for approval of school district excess property tax levies by simple majority vote of participating voters. Previously, the constitution required a super-majority of voters, calculated on voter turnout in the most recent election, to approve new property tax levies.
House Resolution Bill 4204 was legislatively referred to the ballot. See all 2007 Washington ballot measures.
HJR 4204 became the 101st amendment to the Washington State Constitution, amending Section 2 of Article VII.
Election results
| HJR 4215 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | Percentage | |||
 Yes
| 811,507 | 50.61% | ||
| No | 792,010 | 49.39 % | ||
Sponsors of the bill
Sponsors of the bill included: Representatives Schual-Berke, Chase, Wallace, Hudgins, Sells, Kenney, Appleton, Pedersen, Ormsby, Hasegawa, Lovick, Haigh, Dunshee, Hunt, Simpson, Lantz, Hunter, Williams, Linville, Goodman, Conway, Springer, Hurst, Campbell, P. Sullivan, Miloscia, Kelley, Moeller, Green, Rolfes, Eddy, Santos, Fromhold, Haler.
Voting results
Below are the voting results for the measure as it passed through the House and Senate.
| Yeas | Nays | Absent | Excused | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | 33 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| House | 79 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
Statement of support
Some of the arguments in support of the amendment include:
- Would allow local levies to pass with a simple majority vote instead of a super-majority
- Simple majorities support bipartisan support[2]
Drafted by: Laura Bay, President, Washington State PTA; Rich Hadley, President/CEO, Greater Spokane Incorporated; Mary Lindquist, President, Washington Education Association and high school teacher; Jim Kowalkowski, Director, Rural Education Center and Pomeroy Schools Superintendent; James Kelly, President/CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle; Lisa MacFarlane, President, League of Education Voters.
Statement of opposition
Some of the arguments of opposition include:
- Would lift the restriction of passing only 1% levies without a super-majority approval
- Is a property tax-hike in disguise
- Would allow a small percentage to raise taxes[3]
Drafted by: Janea Holmquist, Senator, Ranking Republican, Early Learning, K-12 Committee; Ed Orcutt, State Representative, homeowner, and forester; Angie Dorman, nationally-recognized teacher, 2006 American Star of Teaching; Kelly Niemi, family forester and small business owner; Steve Appel, President, representing Washington Farm Bureau’s 35,000 families; Wynn Cannon, Chairman, on behalf of League of Washington Taxpayers.
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References
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