Tax crusader update

Collection of taxes was $1,928,815 from Shelter Bay and Pull & Be Damned this year. The levy rate of $12.3500 per thousand is higher than the levy rate in the county’s tax area 1580, which, before the Great Wolf decision, used to include these two areas. That levy rate is $11.4983. In previous years the Swinomish always used the same levy rate.

The Tribe contributes $660,000 to the La Conner School District. Using the levy rates from area 1580, the Swinomish will contribute $141,000 for Fire District 13, $25,764 for the La Conner Library, and $72,116 for Medic 1. There are two tax parcels for which the Tribe reimburses the County, totaling $8,049. The remainder, $1,021,886, is retained for services to trust lands and general government.

The Swinomish do not contribute to funding the $1,500,000 debt service on the bond which built the middle school. That would run about $250,000 per year and is funded by taxpayers of the La Conner School District not living on Indian-owned property.

My letter to Rep. Paul, our new legislator, regarding the tax shift, was not successful. This was intended to stop the assignment of $1,348,688 to taxpayers living in the La Conner School District, $500,263 to all taxpayers in the County and $35,617 to those living in the Anacortes Port District. I will try again next year.

Sincerely,

Dan O’Donnell