It’s not often a Republican lawmaker in Washington proposes a tax increase, so the recent Seattle Times story about Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, doing just that grabbed our attention.
Stokesbary told the newspaper he’s going to urge his caucus to support a local sales tax increase to pay for homeless programs. He added, “I’m hoping the other side of aisle would be willing to meet halfway.”
That in theory is an encouraging position. As Gov. Jay Inslee said Jan. 14 in his State of the State Address, homelessness in Washington is a “growing crisis.” There are about 10,000 people living in the state without shelter, and another 11,000 in temporary homeless housing. Bipartisan proposals to address the issue are needed desperately.
But we fear Stokesbary’s plan will ultimately fail the bipartisan test. You see, his sale tax hike that communities could enact would forbid such action if those cities allow safe drug consumption sites and unsanctioned encampments within 500 feet of schools, parks and courthouses. In other words, his proposal would target Seattle and strategies it’s considering in an effort to combat overdose deaths. Thus what might otherwise be a worthy proposal is considered anything but by many Seattle-area Democrats.
Instead, we hope legislators will focus on the many commonalities their districts face in trying to tackle homelessness. How to be compassionate while ensuring safety, health and business concerns are addressed is a tall order for communities large and small.
Inslee has proposed tapping the state’s rainy day fund for $300 million to spend over the next three years to add 2,100 shelter beds and provide other help. There is bipartisan opposition to raiding the fund, and we have to agree it is not the appropriate source of money for a problem that requires sustainable funding.
A couple of bills, both from Republicans, would divert some money from the state’s document recording fee to programs that would help those who are homeless or in danger of becoming so. Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, is pushing to find new revenue sources communities could use to tailor homelessness programs to meet their specific needs, the Seattle Times reported.
Of course, some lawmakers don’t think more state spending is the answer. As Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, told The Columbian’s Jeff Mize for our Jan. 12 legislative preview, Washington has spent $10 billion to $12 billion on homeless programs over the past 11 years, “And our problem is worse than ever.”
We agree with the governor that getting homeless people into some kind of shelter must be a top priority. Just how to accomplish that, then further help them onto the path to housing security, will require legislators to listen to all ideas and work to find strategies that are fair, compassionate and doable. Answers will certainly require compromise. But if there ever was an issue that rises above party, the state’s homeless crisis is it.
