Survey to help DeBruin decide on override vote

Sept. 4, 2007 -- County Supervisor Lynne DeBruin is surveying constituents to help her decide whether to or not to vote to override County Executive Scott Walker’s veto of a resolution calling for an advisory referendum on a 1% sales tax.

The proposed tax would provide property tax relief as well as money for transit and the parks, according to proponents.

DeBruin voted against the resolution authorizing the referendum. That resolution was adopted by the full County Board in July on a 10-6 vote. Walker vetoed the resolution in August.

The board will consider the matter again later this month, when it votes on whether to override the veto. The Board’s decision is expected to be a close one, and the fate of the referendum could hang on DeBruin’s vote.

“I’m pretty key,” she said.

The survey was mailed to 14,000 households about two weeks ago, DeBruin said.

The responses are running, she said, “right now, neck and neck...Personally, I’d like to see it a little clearer than 50-50.”

DeBruin has long opposed advisory referendums, and said she still has problems with them.

“If you’re going to do one, it should be binding,” she said.

DeBruin said she is more willing to move on the issue because of a change she senses among her constituency. “I’m starting to get people saying, ‘Let’s at least have a referendum.’”

The willingness to even consider new taxes “is completely different than five, six years ago,” she said.

Under the referendum proposal, half the estimated $120 million raised would go to property tax relief; the rest would help fund parks, transit, police and fire services.

DeBruin said her constitutents who oppose the referendum generally do not want any more taxes and do not trust the county to keep its promise of property tax relief. There is some grounds for skepticism – the county adopted the existing 0.5% sales tax with the promise that it would be used to fund capital projects and to provide property tax relief. In recent years, however, it has been used to support the county’s general operating budget.

Those who support the referendum generally want something -- anything -- done to improve the deteriorating parks and transit services, she said. Parks are of particular concern to those who have contacted her, she said.

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