Why Thurston County’s Courthouse Tax Failed – for now

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I am in the middle of drafting a complete article detailing the actual ballot title challenges and explaining the process for others so that future activists can have an easier time navigating the process. When I finish this article, I will link it here for reference.

To learn more about the proposed $300 million Thurston County Courthouse proposal go here.

To see the initial video (part 1) go here.

To see the follow up video (Part 2) go here.

To see a video about how poor decisions the county is making on the location for the theoretical courthouse plan (Part 3) go here

To see a more recent update on just how disastrous this recent tax scheme has become go here.

It is worth pointing out that County Commissioner Gary Edwards has consistently voted against this proposed tax increase on multiple occasions, and he also voted against the 1% property tax increase recently passed by Thurston County. We do frequently call out bad behavior by bureaucrats and politicians, but it is worth pointing out the good things they do as well. He deserves recognition for pushing back against this bad policy.

To see John Pettit’s better proposal (2% the cost, solves most of the “problems” which the current courthouse has). See here. Note: Producing this option costs zero taxpayer dollars (compared to $500,000 for the county’s version) , took a few days to research (instead of four years).

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OUR CONSTITUTION BEGINS WITH THE PHRASE “WE THE PEOPLE.”  IT WAS THE FOUNDER’S INTENT THAT GOVERNMENT BE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.  IT WASN’T THEIR INTENTION FOR THE PEOPLE TO SERVE THE GOVERNMENT.  IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED THAT GOVERNMENT WHICH FAILED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE “ALTERED OR ABOLISHED.”  UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE FOUNDER’S INTENT, WE REMAIN WE THE GOVERNED…

Background articles and documents:

Thurston County’s $422 million tax increase proposal – worse than we thought

Thurston County abandons illegal courthouse tax ordinance, makes second attempt to pass the ordinance next week

How many laws did Thurston County break to push new courthouse scheme?

WA Dept of Natural Resources – 1999 Geologic Map GM-47 – Geologic Folio of the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Urban Area, Washington: Liquefaction Susceptibility Map

What happens if the bond is approved, and a mini-recession hits? How Thurston County public services would be cut

PFM Financial Advisors – Mar 8, 2019 – report to Thurston County, WA – Potential Use of Levy Lid Lift – Update

Thurston County Commission Minutes – August 14, 2018 – see Item 5a and 5b for a $200,000 City of Olympia “Interlocal Agreement for new courthouse” and $300,000 for New Courthouse “Consultant”

Thurston County Commission Agenda – April 30, 2019 – see Item 6a for new tax proposal

Thurston County Elway Poll Survey (conducted March-April 2019) summary

Thurston County Elway Poll Survey supporting doc – crosstab banners

Thurston County Elway Poll Survey supporting doc – topline

Thurston County Courthouse Draft Feasibility Report – 12-14-18

SouthSoundBiz – “Thurston County to Place New Courthouse Request on April 2020 Ballot”

The Olympian – ” Vote to pay for Thurston County’s new courthouse not coming until April 2020″

The Olympian – “County commissioners vote 2-1 to move courthouse to downtown Olympia”

Thurston County demonstrates how NOT to build a jail

Thurston County spends $8 million and 18 years to make a $4 million empty building worth $2 million

Childish political leadership in Thurston County is costing taxpayers millions

Thurston County staff create fraudulent data to justify tax increase

A plague of Consequences

Jon Pettit – Plan A – proposed in July 2019 as better, more cost effective option

Document detailing Life Cycle Engineering and Budgeting for Public Facilities (Hint: Thurston County building maintenance doesn’t even come close to this)