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Latest House Democratic budget adds more property tax relief

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The House Democratic budget released Tuesday offers slightly more property tax relief than the Senate Democratic plan released Monday.

For a house valued at $500,000, the Senate plan provides $155 relief in 2019, while today’s House plan provides $170 next year and $200 in 2020.

But why is there no property tax relief in 2018?

“We have an unconstitutional issue with this also because it would be retroactive to a tax that has already been assessed and they are paying right now and so, looking backwards to retroactively change that, we have some constitutional issues,” said House Finance Chair Kristine Lytton.

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House Democrats are also proposing a capital gains tax on the sale of assets such as stock and bonds to pay for permanent property tax relief. Republicans said that's the wrong approach.

Kennewick Republican Sen. Sharon Brown said, “This is not the time where we should be talking about re-evaluating our entire tax structure. We have over $2 billion in additional revenue to talk about. I don't think this is the time to talk about generating additional dollars.”

Unlike the Senate Democratic plan, the House Democratic budget does not put additional additional money into teacher salaries this year, as ordered by the state Supreme Court.

Instead, House Democrats are putting aside money for teachers next year and putting more money into student services this year.

“We're not ignoring the court, but we need to focus on those school children,” said House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan.