Reader urges opposition to TBD

Soap Lake wants to create a Transportation Benefit District - TBD.

Soap Lake wants to create a Transportation Benefit District - TBD. Soap Lake has scheduled a Public Hearing on the eve of July 3, at 7 p.m. Citizens will be preparing for the July 4 holiday and will opt not to attend. There are 17 TBDs in the state, and all are cities larger than Saop Lake. These Districts are a government within a government, with offices and employees, who can levy vehicle use taxes, sales and use taxes, ad valorem property taxes, and impose fees on building construction/land development.

These all discourage business from locating here or for home builders to build here. Apparently the city feels the current avenues to tax residents are not enough.

I would urge residents to write letters of opposition to the newspaper editors, and send a copy to city hall at POB 1270, Soap Lake, 98851.

Maynard Hagen,

Soap Lake