Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, issued the following statement in response to a host of new tax proposals from the Democratic majority to fund their most recent budget:

“Washingtonians are already stretched thin by rising inflation and record housing costs and now Senate Democrats are proposing another version of the property tax hike that will make things worse.

This massive increase would hit homeowners, renters, and small businesses alike, especially in rural communities. For working families and seniors on fixed incomes, it’s a recipe for displacement and instability.

The public has already made their opposition clear. Just weeks ago, more than 40,000 Washingtonians signed in against a version of this proposal when it was first introduced. Yet here it is again, a recycled plan that ignores what voters have repeatedly said: No to higher property taxes.

Higher property taxes don’t just hurt homeowners, they get passed along to renters, too, as housing providers struggle to absorb the cost. That means fewer affordable housing options and higher monthly bills for people already on the edge.

Now is not the time to put housing further out of reach. I will continue to stand up for affordability and against regressive tax policies that hurt the people who can least afford it.”