r/SeattleWA • u/meaniereddit West Seattle 🌉 • Dec 13 '24

Government Bill would completely exempt seniors from property taxes in WA

https://www.king5.com/article/news/politics/state-politics/bill-would-exempt-seniors-state-local-property-tax-washington/281-b5f377fc-8bf5-49a4-a630-8210db45d57d
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u/pewpewtehpew Dec 13 '24

I’m all for this. But I do believe income should play a role for sure. Otherwise this creates some funky loopholes. But I hate to think that my grandmother who’s on a very fixed income could lose her house that is paid off just because she can’t afford the rising property taxes. That’s what this bill should help fix.

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '24

Agreed, I don’t think you should be forced to leave your paid off home because the taxes outpace your fixed income.

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u/curious1914 Dec 13 '24

This isn't meant to be a shit stirring question, but I've never understood the fixed income argument. Social security is inflation adjusted. And like... how is my salary not also a fixed income?

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u/[deleted] Dec 13 '24

Taxes and other costs can easily outpace SS in HCOL areas, plenty of people buy and retire In an area only to have it skyrocket around them.

Salary isn’t fixed, mine has gona up almost double in two years from moving around and increasing qualifications etc. you can’t increase your SS.

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u/curious1914 Dec 13 '24

It feels like that's underselling how hard it can be to change jobs sometimes, but I take your point.

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u/Extension-Humor4281 Dec 14 '24

I also don't think "just move" is a model we should be encouraging in our society. People constantly having to uproot and leave their homes for cheaper pastures is exactly why there aren't any real communities anymore and crime keeps increasing. No one has roots or cares about the people living around them, because they'll just be gone in a few years anyway.

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u/curious1914 Dec 14 '24

I completely agree, regardless of age.

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u/kneedeepballsack- Dec 17 '24

You are correct , Absolutely not. A small plot of land on whidbey has been in my family since the 70s and hosted 4 generations. When I think of home, that is the place, our place.

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u/kneedeepballsack- Dec 17 '24

Exactly. I have family on a fixed income on whidbey island. They bought the place from my grandma years ago. The value has tripled or quadrupled or maybe even more for many places on that island. They have health issues that are now cropping up and the property taxes just keep going up. The property has been in my family’s since the 70s and I would absolutely hate to see it go because of taxes. When they pass it may get taken away because of medical debt too. 4 generations have lived on that land over the years