Washington Legislature won't restructure tax system; Vashon should speak up

The state is in a world of hurt. A deficit economic forecasters thought would reach $6 billion is now approaching a staggering $9 billion — making Washington one of the 10 worst states in the country in terms of its budget shortfall.

Why did the state’s economy “fall off a cliff” in the last few months, as an analyst with the Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New York recently told The Seattle Times? In part, he noted, because of Washington’s lopsided and ill-conceived tax structure — with its lack of a state income tax and its dependence, as a result, on the sales tax.

When times are tough, people spend less. And thus, when times are tough, and the state’s needs are presumably greater, guess what? The state’s hole grows exponentially bigger.

In this anti-tax time we live in, when taxes are seen as a burden to be avoided rather than a shared civic duty to sustain our quality of life, few politicians — and certainly not Gov. Christine Gregoire — have the political will to call for the major restructuring dozens of analysts, economists and blue-ribbon panels say is in order. But make no mistake: As a result, Vashon — like every community around the state — will also hurt.

Budget documents released this week (PDF) indicate public schools will pay an especially high price for our flawed tax structure — $877 million statewide, to be specific. Already, Vashon School District officials are using the dreaded “L” word — layoffs.

Islanders can’t turn this ship on our own. But we can add our voices to a faint but nonetheless audible chorus out there calling for a saner system of taxation. If our political leaders won’t lead the way, we, the people, need to.