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CALL TO ACTION! No time to waste!!!
Council seeks applicants for charter amendment ballot committees
Tuesday Jun 19 2012 2:11 PM
The Pierce County Council invites members of the public to apply for positions on the committees that will write “for” and “against” statements in the voters’ pamphlet about a ballot measure regarding tax increases.
The Council recently voted to put a proposed amendment to the Pierce County Charter on the Nov. 6 ballot. If approved, the amendment would require a two-thirds vote of the Council (five out of seven members) to raise new taxes after Jan. 1, 2013. The current threshold is a simple majority of four votes.
Under state law, the Council has the authority to appoint up to three members to each committee. The Council invites people who want to participate to submit letters of interest by July 2, 2012. Letters should be sent to Denise Johnson, Clerk of the Council, 930 Tacoma Ave. S, Room 1046, Tacoma, WA 98402 or djohnso@co.pierce.wa.us.
The Council intends to select the members by Resolution at a public hearing on July 10, 2012. Once selected by the Council, the two committees have until Aug. 7 to submit the ballot statements to the County Auditor.
More information about the proposal, Ordinance 2012-15s, is available here.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Long, Council administrator
(253)798-6068
slong@co.pierce.wa.us
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http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/internet/news.cfm?node_id=127360&media=PC
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[More articles available under the News tab above]
Opinion: Abdication of duty by Pierce County Council
Published in the Tacoma Weekly
March 22, 2012
“Pierce County Councilmember Roger Bush has floated an idea that would fundamentally change how Pierce County operates. While it might seem like a great idea, since it puts the fate of significant issues directly in the hands of voters, his idea could also mean more elections are bought and sold by outside interests.”
ARTICLE – Proposal to require voter approval of any new county taxes advances
Steve Maynard; TNT Staff writer
Published: 03/19/12
“A Pierce County Council member’s proposal requiring any new county tax to be approved by voters moved forward today and appears to have the votes required to put it on the November ballot.”
ARTICLE – Pierce Councilman’s plan: Send any new county tax to voters
Steve Maynard; TNT Staff writer
Published: 03/17/12
“A Pierce County Council member has proposed a ballot measure requiring any new county tax to be sent to voters for their approval.” – but it won’t apply to the new Flood Control Zone District Tax they’re pushing through the council which will add 10-cent tax per thousand dollars assessed value on all Pierce County property owners–including those within city limits. Note – they may go up to 50-cents per thousand dollars assessed value.
Proposed Resolution 2012-31
(updated 04-10-2012)
UPDATE: PROPOSED RESOLUTION 2012-31 WAS VOTED DOWN. As per Tim Farrell via facebook on 04-10-2012, following the Council meeting – “Ok folks, here is what happened. My colleagues did a procedural move that allowed for an up or down vote to schedule the hearing. That motion to schedule failed 4-2 with Rick and I dissenting. Immediately afterward, I motioned to Susan Long to draft new language to set for a charter review in 2013. I have been told by at least one other colleague that they would be receptive to a longer timeline.”
For more information on the proposed resolution, click HERE.
Proposed Ordinance No. 2012-15
Title: An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Proposing an Amendment to the Pierce County Charter to Require the County Council to Submit to the Voters the Question of Approving All New Councilmatic Tax Measures and Increases Thereto; Requesting the Auditor to Submit this Amendment to the Voters at the November 2012 General Election; and Requesting the Prosecuting Attorney to Draft an Appropriate Ballot Title.
Status: Under Consideration
Sponsor: Councilmember Roger Bush
Date of final Council hearing: Apparently in the very near future.
Submit Comments ASAP to Susan Long - slong@co.pierce.wa.us | (253) 798-6068
Link to Proposal No. 2012-15 documents and related information
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/council/iview/proposal.cfm?proposal_num=2012-15
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Sequential Numbering for Future Charter Amendments
by Stacy Emerson
- Click image to view
After working on the Yes on Charter Amendment 1 ‘campaign’ of 2006 (For Election of Sheriff), and while working on the No on Charter Amendment 1 ‘campaign’ in 2008 (No on Term Limit Extensions), I raised the issue of our system not using sequential numbering for our Charter Amendments proposals.
On July 11, 2011, I received an email from Julie Anderson, the Pierce County Auditor, with great news:
“We agree, Stacy. And, the Auditor’s Office is working on the protocol now.”, she said. “Expect to see sequential numbering on the November ballot for the Charter Amendments.”
So, that means we should expect to the next Charter Amendment appearing on the ballot will be number Charter Amendment #40.
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