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ACIR' Survey Results ...
Federal Income Tax Is The "Worst"
The federal income tax is viewed by more Americans as'
worse - or less fair - than any other major tax, according to a
recent survey. The Advisory Committee on
Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR), working with the
Opinion Research Corporation of Princeton, New Jersey, also
found increases in negative attitudes toward state income
and sales taxes.
Twenty-five percent of all survey respondents felt the local
property. tax was the worst, rating second only to the 36
percent total who felt the- same about the federal income
tax. Negative ratings for both state and federal income
taxes and the state sales tax.increased over survey results
from the previous year. However, the local property tax
"worst" rating dropped to an all-time low of 25 percent, down
two percent from the previous year.
The widespread. enactment of local property tax lids, such as
the 106 percent limitation in Washington State, may have
helped reduce aversion to the local property tax; in 1972, the
first' year of the survey, that tax received a 45 percent
"worst" rating.
Oddly,.most' Americans surveyed feel they get the "most for
their money, from the federal level of government, despite
feeling thatthe federal income tax is the worst of all taxes.
Respondents from the West (which includes the Southwest,
`Northwest, and .Rocky Mountain States), however, view
federal government spending in a slightly less favorable light
than respondents .from the nation as a whole. Specifically,
only 30'percent of westerners (compared with the national
average of 33 percent) feel the federal government gives "the
most for their money".
The 1980 western region survey' results show striking
differences from those obtained in 1979. Although 27 percent
of those responding in both years felt that the state provided
the "Most for their money", the figure for . the federal
government jumped from 18 to 30 percent over the same
period. Coinciding with that favorable increase for the
federal government was an alarming increase in disfavor with
local government spending. Forty percent of those
responding in •1979 felt that local government provided the
"most for their money." That figure dropped dramatically to
a total of only 25 percent in 1980.
Complete results of the ACIR survey, including many more
categories and an extensive breakdown of results along
demographic lines, are available from the U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Request "Changing Public
Attitudes on Governments and Taxes," ACIR document
number S-9.
Legislative Briefing
Scheduled by HUD
The Department of Housing and Urban Development will hold
a 'legislative briefing" in Portland on October 29. Included
will be presentations on the (lousing and Community
Development Act of 1980, as well as the Solar Energy and
Energy Conservation Act and the Fair housing Act. For
more information, contact HUD at (202) 755-6480.
MVA news from:
TWASHINGTON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL INSTITUTE
Jane Rae Wilkinson
Appointed PERC Chairman
Jane Rae Wilkinson, an attorney for Weyerhauser, has been
named to replace Mary Ellen Krug as Chairman of the Public
Employment Relations Commission (PERC). 1NIs. Wilkinson
was appointed by Governor Ray to a four year term ending
September 8, 1985. Her appointment is subject to
confirmation by the Senate in January.
Ms. Wilkinson joins Commissioners Robert J. Williams, a .
retired labor relations executive for Pacific Northwest 1301,
and John H. Leinen, President of the Spokane transit workers:`
union and Secretary -Treasurer of the Spokane Labor Council.'
Ms. Wilkinson will act as the "neutral" commissioner.
Mary Ellen Krug resigned July 25th after serving as Chairman
of PERC for almost four' years. Her resignation followed a'
.recent Grays Harbor Superior Court decision, involving .the;
City of Hoquiam versus PERC and Hoquiam Firefighters
Local 315. In this case, the City of Hoquiam argued• that the
"appearance of fairness" doctrine was violated in a ULP,::;
hearing because the attorney .representing the firefighters
was from Krug's firm. In other words, the City said itcould
not get a fair hearing from the PERC Commission because .
the opposing counsel was in the same firm as the Chairman.
Judge John w. Schumacher agreed and overruled the hearing'
examiner's decision on that issue. " The decision is being
appealed and will be heard by the. Washington State Supreme
Court.
On Transcript Costs .
According to a decision by the Washington State Court of
Appeals, "The expense of providing a certified transcript of
Civil Service Commission action, as required by RC%y
41.12.090 when an appeal is taken from such action,.' is',
recoverableby the prevailing party in the appeal as part of
the costs." (Benavides v. Civil Service Commission of the
City of Selah, Court of Appeals, Division III, File No. 3444.
5-111, June 24, 1980)
On CWPS and Wage Guidelines ...
The pay standard for the third year of the Carter
Administration's wage guideline program may be the same as
the second year's guidelines, Sally Katzen, general counsel of
the Council on Wage and Price Stability, told the 33rd
National Conference on Labor. The second -year standard,
which sets a wage guideline range of 7.5 to 9.5 percent,
wasn't firmed up until seven months into the second year,
Katzen noted. Given the volatile political and economic
situation that will prevail for the balance of calendar year
1980, Katzen said, the second -year standard is likely to
romain unchanged.
Source: Bulletin to Management, Bureau of National Affairs,
June 26 and July 3, 1980.
October 1980 City News Page 5