Editorials / Opinion

Free up the cash

I believe a case can be made by all counties and King County, in particular, for real-estate tax relief.

We pay an average of 1 percent of appraised value or $3,000 on an average home. Reducing the rate to three quarters of 1 percent would save homeowners about $750.

This eliminates the need to wait for appraisals and the homeowner would spend the money paying sales tax on purchases. The merchant would pay more B-and-O [business and occupation] tax, stimulating our economy, plus buyers would buy homes knowing the tax is less.

This plan could continue for one year with renewal if progress is made.

— Russ Moppes, Sammamish