Taxes and Tribe

In the February 15th edition, I wrote a letter about Swinomish taxation of Shelter Bay and Pull & Be Damned in which I estimated the tax at $2,304,266.

I apologize. The actual tax levied for 2017 by the Swinomish is $1,840,574. I confused the taxes levied for levy code 1580 with those levied by the Swinomish.

The levy rate calculated by the Skagit County Assessor for schools is $5.0471 per thousand. That produces $749,619. The Swinomish contribution is $400,000 plus half the cost of a school bus, $70,271. That leaves a shortfall of $279,348.

To make up for that, the average taxpayer in La Conner will pay an extra $63.04 for schools. Combining the other taxing districts, including the county, the extra tax runs $86.30.

If the Swinomish were to fully pay for the kids that come from Shelter Bay and Pull & Be Damned, the average taxpayer in La Conner would pay an extra $23.26, and the Swinomish would have $773,615 left over after all contributions, exemptions, uncollectable taxes, and tax splits are accounted for.

For the past three years, the La Conner School Board has accepted a contribution that is less than the fair share amount. Added up, the total extra taxes taken from the taxpayers of the La Conner School District is $1,274,680. Next year the Board should insist on the fair share amount or go to arbitration.

Sincerely,

Dan O’Donnell

La Conner