-King County and other governments already control
or own 61% of the land in King County.
That's right, government already owns or controls
almost 2/3 of the land, yet they want even more.
The county already has a Conservation Futures fund
that collected almost $62 million
over the last three years.
Never satisfied, they now want you to pay
even more and take on more maintenance costs.
Existing land-use laws already severely limit rural growth.
Not long ago, King County announced
they didn't have resources to empty trash in the parks,
yet they want even more land they admit they cannot maintain.
Here's an example of what King County
does with conservation land.
In 2013, they purchased property in Fall City
for $4.5 million with the intent of leasing it out
to economically
and environmentally sustainable agriculture.
Two years later in 2015,
King County sold the property for $720,000.
Taxpayers lost an astounding $4 million or 84% in two years.
What a disgrace!
More open space also means fewer acres will be taxed,
resulting in higher property tax for existing property owners.
Less private property also results in less housing.
There needs to be a balance of land uses.
Open space is important, but enough is enough.
At 61% and growing, King County passed balance a long time ago.
King County already controls way too much land,
has proven it cannot manage what it already owns,
and resold land it purchased two years prior at an 84% loss.
Stop the land grab now.
Instead, let's work for balance and open space
for housing as the Growth Management Act directs.