Council Enthusiastically Passed $500,000 Storm Water Tax, Causing A Taxpayer Revolt!
The current City Council passed a $500,000 increase in Storm Water taxes on December 8, 2008. The enormous increase was received with indignation by citizens with sticker shock.
Former City Manager Eric Swansen briefed the Council before its passage about the "conscious decision being made" to shift employee positions from street funds into this new tax being established for stormwater.
Council Member Theresa Hancock responded by saying: "I think this is a good storm utility program, well done, and other communities will look at this as a way to do billing for storm water - this is very good work!"
Council Member Theresa Hancock then made the motion to approve the disastrous storm water plan, which was unamimously passed by the Council. Not a single member of the Council expressed any reservations about passing the tax increase.
Now all of the Council Members agree it was a bad plan, and are going to be starting from scratch to create a new storm water tax plan.
Sources:
City of Sunnyside: Minutes and Audio of City Council Meeting held 12/8/2008
Daily Sun News: "Stormwater stickershock hits Sunnyside" published 2/24/2009
Daily Sun News: "Council guts Sunnyside stormwater fund" published 4/21/2009