What problem are we trying to solve?
Sammamish is the best-run city in the state. With the best finances, and a pay-as-you-go approach to building roads and parks. We’re building our Community and Aquatic Center with cash, not new taxes. City taxes have not gone up in five years, and won’t for at least another two years. We aren’t charged utility taxes.
Sammamish has been named one of the best, safest, friendliest cities in America! We have a great representative democracy, with elections every two years.
The pro side claims that most cities have initiative and referendum. That’s wrong. Big cities do. But 74% of the 191 “code” cities in our state, like Sammamish, including our neighbors Kirkland, Auburn and Snoqualmie, do not.
The pro side argues that big outside special interest groups won’t care about Sammamish. Not true. Tim Eyman funded an initiative in Redmond. Outside money recently funded initiatives in Issaquah, Sequim, Blaine, Chelan, Shelton, and Mukilteo. They all failed; but local citizens were stuck with election and legal costs.
Special interest groups? Big outside money? Misleading advertising? Poorly drafted laws? Unintended consequences? Unfunded mandates?
We don’t need any of it. It’s not worth it. Vote no.
