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ParentMap publishes articles, op-eds and essays by people from all walks of life. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own and are not endorsed by ParentMap.
As our children start to head back to school after a long summer break, they aren’t the only ones who’ll have some homework to do. Ballots for the November election will be arriving in the mail soon, and parents need to know what’s at stake for kids and families in our state.
Perhaps the most important item for families on this November’s ballot is Initiative 645 (I-645). Spearheaded by multi-millionaire hedge fund manager Brian Heywood and Let’s Go Washington, I-645 aims to repeal the Millionaires Tax passed by the legislature earlier this year. While the tax that Heywood and his wealthy friends don’t want to pay will only impact the top half of one percent of Washingtonians, repealing it will have significant ramifications for the other 99.5 percent of us.
If passed, I-645 would eliminate $13 billion from our state budget, resulting in significant cuts to programs and services that families rely on like early learning, K–12 education, and healthcare. It would also raise taxes on working families at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet.
I-645 will cut funding for early learning and K–12 education
The largest portion of our state budget is dedicated to funding K–12 education. When the Millionaires Tax passed earlier this year, lawmakers included the expected revenue it would generate in their funding decisions. If I-645 passes, that funding will disappear. The result of this would be damaging for students. We would likely see larger class sizes in our schools and fewer opportunities for one-on-one support.
The cuts to education would not stop at our K–12 schools. They would also threaten early learning and childcare at a time when those investments remain vulnerable as the state works to close budget deficits. The Millionaires Tax directs 5 percent of the revenue generated by the tax into the Fair Start for Kids Account specifically to support early learning and childcare. This dedicated funding reflects an important commitment to our youngest children and working families, one that we should be building on, not taking away. Passage of I-645 would remove millions of dollars in expected funding for this account, putting affordable, high-quality early learning and childcare further out of reach for working families and undermining an investment our state cannot afford to lose.
I-645 will increase household expenses
Families across the nation are struggling with the cost of living right now. But in Washington, our high sales tax rate means that we’re feeling the pinch even more. The Millionaires Tax legislation included sales tax cuts to essential household items like diapers, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen and over-the-counter medication — things that show up in the average family’s shopping cart week after week.
The savings resulting from this sales tax cut could really add up. Let’s say you spend $100 a month on diapers for your kids. Over the course of the year, this cut in sales tax could save you $126, and that’s just on the diapers. If I-645 passes, the sales tax cuts and the resulting savings for working families will be eliminated in favor of a tax cut for only the wealthiest Washingtonians.
I-645 will eliminate the expansion of free school meals
We all know that children can’t focus and learn if they are hungry. Unfortunately, many students in our schools do not have access to the nutritious food they need to feel ready to succeed in the classroom. That’s where free meals at school can help. While Washington schools already provide this service for some students, revenue from the Millionaires Tax could fund free meals for every public school student in the state, and save participating families up to $1200 per year. If I-645 passes, instead of paying for kids’ lunches, that money will end up back in the pockets of multi-millionaires.
I-645 will hit families with low incomes the hardest
Washington has one of the most regressive tax codes in the country, which means that those with the least pay the largest portion of their income in taxes. This is unfair and inequitable. In recent years, lawmakers have begun to address this with the creation of the capital gains tax and the Working Families Tax Credit. The WFTC program has been particularly impactful for Washington families with low incomes; a married couple with two children can receive a rebate of up to $1,330 per year, and that cash can be spent in whatever way feels best for them.
Right now, around 350,000 households are eligible for the WFTC. The Millionaires Tax would allow the program to expand to 460,000 more households and cover almost half of the children in our state. If I-645 passes, this expansion will not be possible.
Vote NO on I-645
We all want to live in a Washington where our children have access to high-quality education and nutritious food, and where working families can find childcare and afford basic household essentials. I-645 doesn’t bring us closer to that vision. I’ll be thinking of my family’s future when I vote no this November.
