In the coming weeks, voters will be faced with a detailed ballot that includes nine amendments to the Clark County Charter, our local constitution. This volume of amendments on the ballot, which also includes two public safety initiatives, will be confusing — and will require you, the voter, to educate yourself carefully.
These amendments, crafted over the past months by members of the Charter Review Commission, could make substantive changes to our county government.
Some amendments (21, 23 and 26) would strengthen good governance and the democratic process. But others (20 and 24) would insert into the charter decisions that are better left to our elected county councilors. If passed, the amendments would restrict council powers and, by extension, the voice of the voters. And two proposed amendments claim potential cost savings via additional analysis (24) or performance audits (27) but are unlikely to deliver on their promises. There are other costs to consider, such as quality of life. Who could lose if others win?
The League of Women Voters of Clark County urges voters to reject Amendment 25, Supermajority Approval for Council Taxes, which would require a two-thirds majority of county council members to approve any tax increase. In Clark County, we have five councilors. Two-thirds of five is 3.33 — which practically speaking rounds up to four, or 80 percent. Hearing the number two-thirds does not sound as restrictive as the math reveals. In practice, 80 percent is a huge number to reach consensus. This could result in limiting council decision-making even more than affecting taxation.
Eighty percent is an extremely high bar when you consider that the Washington Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives require a simple majority to pass taxes. Even the U.S. Senate requires only a 60 percent vote of its 100 members.
The risk is that some very good legislation that could help our citizens thrive would never pass because of the challenge of reaching a supermajority. Two council members could block funds for public safety services or funds that help those unable to provide for themselves. Raising revenue for services that are less popular, such as those that affect poorer residents, would be constrained. The League is worried about the people who will be left behind.
We have provided information about one proposed amendment and briefly mentioned others. You have a right to know about all of them — and know that there will be conflicting sources of information. Any voter could feel overwhelmed by so many boxes to fill in. It is OK to turn in an incomplete ballot; you do not have to check all the boxes.
Get educated to have your questions answered. A series of Charter Review Commission town halls in September and October can be viewed on CVTV’s website, cvtv.org, where you also can view recordings of the League’s candidate forums. You should have received your Voters’ Pamphlet in the mail, and you also can find it in your profile on VoteWA.gov, along with other good voting resources.
Democratic government depends upon informed and active participation in government. In this 250th year of our nation, the freedom to vote still is foundational. Strong communities begin with an engaged public, and democracy works best when people participate.