Renewal and enrollment for the City of Burien’s Utility Tax Relief Program for Low Income Households has begun, with an application deadline of Dec. 8th.

The program provides some relief to low income Burien residents on the local utility taxes paid for telephone (not including cellular), cable services, and gas/electricity provided by Puget Sound Energy.

Last year, 64 Burien households participated with an average reimbursement of $35.

The application and guidelines are available online at the City’s website or by calling Lori Fleming at (206) 248-5518.

The application is due by December 8, 2009, and an application is also available in Spanish at www.burienwa.gov/espanol.

Burien’s proposed vehicle license fee went down to a resounding defeat (75% voted no) NOT because voters don’t think sidewalks and bike routes are good things.

It went down because it was wrong-headed.

Regardless of the resounding defeat, the city council still has the power to impose a $20 annual license fee without voter approval. Will the council defy the voters to impose this fee anyway?

And don’t forget, any neighborhood in need of improvements can form a Local Improvement District (LID) to assess itself for street improvements (the city will help with that). Broad improvements are obviously a responsibility of the larger community (check your City Light bill for the costs of undergrounding utilities in the First Avenue improvement area).

I believe the residents, voters and taxpayers (not always the same people) of Burien want a shiny, people friendly community. I believe Burien voters and taxpayers (often the same people) are not selfish, stingy, or mean-spirited. I believe the taxpayers (including those most able to pay) of Burien appreciate their obligation to the greater good of the community. We are not all about ourselves.

Later this year, the city council may be talking about a possible general property tax increase in 2010. Perhaps it was thoughtless to schedule that discussion with a revenue increase lurking on the current ballot. Having lost the current measure, the council should take some time to reconnect with the community. With 3 of 4 council seats uncontested in this election, there is a disconnect.

I am confident the people of Burien are supportive of maintaining quality public services; provided the council is clear about the need, has implemented noticeable and substantive cost-reduction and efficiency strategies, and sticks to the basics like the rest of us.

Everyone who lives in Burien is our neighbor and we are our brother’s keeper. We should all pitch in to make sure we have the community we want. Please get out and sweep the streets to keep the drains clear. Thank you.

- Stephen Lamphear

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Have something you'd like to say? Then email us your "Letter to the Editor" by clicking here. Be sure to include your real name and a way to contact you, and, pending our review (for libel, etc.), we'll most likely post it. Otherwise, feel free to leave a Comment below...]

To The Editor of the B-town Blog:

On October 29, 2009; The Seattle Times ran a story on the $25 Burien Vehicle Tax/Proposition 1 that is currently on the November ballot. When the reporter asked why a vehicle tax was being used, the mayor of Burien (McGilton) said that “A property tax wasn’t considered out of respect for Burien’s relatively conservative voters, less affluent than in levy happy Seattle”. However, eight days prior to that story, McGilton and the city had done the opposite and sent a news release to the local newspapers and the B-town Blog announcing a Public Hearing on Nov. 9th to solicit public comments on a proposed, increased property tax (of up to 1%) for Burien. Before voting on Tuesday, November 3rd, every citizen in Burien should question what the heck is really going on.

When I attended the July City of Burien Council Meeting/Public Hearing on the $25 Burien Vehicle Tax/Proposition 1 (for sidewalks and bike paths), I didn’t plan on writing the statement against the $25 Burien Vehicle Tax/Proposition 1. However when no information was presented to the public about: the project costs, the amount to be collected from this tax, what other grants/sources could help with the projects, how much these project streets were actually used, I was frustrated. There were no sketches/diagrams of what the finished work might look like. The City quoted statistics from a 2008 Burien Citizen Survey that were inaccurate.

Citizens asked questions. The City didn’t answer. After the Public Hearing, the Council immediately voted to put the Vehicle Tax on the November ballot. In depressed economic times, the City was asking citizens to rubber stamp a new tax.

The City stated at the Hearing the tax will last two years. That is not true. Under the rules for Transportation Benefit Districts, the tax remains in place until the project is completed and paid for. The City does not have the authority to promise otherwise.

The City had not surveyed the use patterns of the project areas. Both 8th Ave and South 136th have light use by both pedestrians and bikes. Only 13% of the respondents to the 2008 Burien Citizen Survey who live in these areas thought there was a need to improve sidewalks and bike paths.

Some of the endorsers/supporters of the tax can’t answer basic questions about the tax. Many of the endorsers do not live in Burien and will not be paying the tax. The campaign signs are being funded by a legislator from Vashon Island and her aide. In the Seattle Times article, McGilton referred to this vehicle tax as a “good test case”. So, what’s up?

Joe Fitzgibbons suggested on the Transportation Choices Coalition website that this is a trial balloon to see if Burien can get residents to vote for this type of a tax. Other cities in the state are watching to see if they can use the same strategy to get new taxes from their residents. I’m not happy to be part of this trial balloon experiment. What am I being tested for? Is it to see if the City of Burien can get a $25 Vehicle Tax and then impose a property tax increase as well on its citizens?

Burien is one of the highest taxed cities in King County. I strongly urge the citizens of Burien to vote “NO” against Proposition 1/$25 Burien Vehicle Tax or other new taxes until Burien improves how it presents the need for new taxes to its citizens.

- Chestine Edgar

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Have something you'd like to say? Then email us your "Letter to the Editor" by clicking here. Be sure to include your real name and a way to contact you, and, pending our review (for libel, etc.), we'll most likely post it. Otherwise, feel free to leave a Comment below...]

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We're now publishing "Letters to the Editor," and encourage all Readers to email us their opinions or thoughts (another option of course is to Comment below each story). Below is a letter from longtime Burien-area resident and former city councilmember Stephen Lamphear:]

Dear Editor –

The city of Burien is proposing a new $25 yearly vehicle license fee. Looking at your Voters Pamphlet, you won’t find this proposal connected to the city of Burien. In fact, you have to thumb all the way to page 100 — end of the Voters Pamphlet — to find it. You will not find the word Burien anywhere in the ballot title. Instead, you will find Transportation Benefit District No.1, Proposition No.1 — yet this is strictly a city revenue proposal. A stealth move if ever I saw one.

For two reasons I cannot support this measure.

First of all, the $25 license fee is a regressive tax that, like utility taxes, hits our working families and lower income people the hardest. Since this is a “fee” — not an excise tax — it is not even deductible on federal income taxes.

If these bicycle and sidewalk improvements are necessary at a time of broad personal economic hardship, there are fairer ways to raise the money. The most obvious, fairer way to raise public money is a voter-approved special property tax levy. At least property taxes are deductible on federal income taxes and more directly affect people of means — also, it calls a duck a duck.

Secondly, having the Transit Benefit District boardmembers the same as the city council is merely “left pocket, right pocket”. I might support a TBD if we were also electing independent commissioners, as is being done for the proposed Des Moines Pool District. I’d rather have independent input on special projects and taxes. However, the interlocking board of directors/councilmembers makes this little more than a work-around for the city council to raise taxes without their name on the price tag: “The council didn’t raise taxes, the TBD did it.”

While, I can afford the $25 for this ill-conceived proposal to improve the community, the working family down the street with 4 cars (everyone works) will have to pony up $100 — money they can ill-afford and not deduct on income taxes. Businesses will also pay this fee and pass it on in higher prices.

Yes, we totally need safe streets: safe for children to walk to school, safe for bicycles. This is not the way to do it. Vote NO on Transportation Benefit District No.1, Proposition No.1. When doing the right thing, you also have to do the thing right.

Stephen Lamphear
North Shorewood

(Stephen Lamphear is a longtime Burien resident, former City Councilmember and frequent Contributor to The B-Town Blog. Read more of his writing here.)

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Have something you'd like to say? Then email us a Letter to the Editor by clicking here, and pending our review (for libel, etc.), we'll most likely post it.]

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a Guest Editorial by Joe Fitzgibbon, Planning Commissioner for the City of Burien:]

by Joe Fitzgibbon

The residents of Burien will have the opportunity this November to vote YES for investments in bicycle and pedestrian facilities. For the price of a half tank of gas, we can make our city safer for our kids and families walking and biking.

As The B-Town Blog has previously reported, a YES vote on the Transportation Benefit District and the proposed $25 vehicle license fee will enable the City of Burien build bicycle lanes, provide safer connections to schools, and repair inadequate sidewalks to increase the mobility of our seniors. I hope you will join me in voting YES to approve this levy to make our city safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Over 400 Burien residents helped shape what we want our city to look like through the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plans. All agreed that our city would be a better place if people could easily get around on two feet or two wheels. Since then, the city has completed some projects, but our progress has slowed because of the competing demands on the city budget — roads, parks, and public safety.

A YES vote on the Sidewalks and Bikes Levy will enable the city to keep moving ahead with some of the highest priority projects from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Master Plan–specifically, improvements to S and SW 136th St and 8th Ave S.

This is a great time for us to tackle these improvements. Construction projects are coming in under budget because demand for residential construction has declined. It is likely that we won’t ever be able to build these projects more cheaply than we are able to right now.

The benefits of better pedestrian and bike infrastructure are numerous and include improved home value, making students safer, and saving school districts money that can instead be used for teaching. It can save you money too. It reduces emissions and makes our air cleaner. It encourages healthy and active lifestyles.

Opponents suggest the cost of improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety is too high and this is not the right time to make our streets safer for walkers and bikers like students at Kennedy High School and Cedarhurst Elementary.

I disagree. The cost of this investment is less than seven cents a day, per vehicle. We must not sacrifice the safety of our children and our quality of life here in Burien.

And our community partners all agree; organizations including the American Heart Association, Washington Conservation Voters, and the 34th District Democrats have all endorsed the Sidewalks and Bikes Levy.

If you have any questions, please email me at safesidewalksnow@gmail.com. Let’s vote YES for a healthier and safer Burien!

(Joe Fitzgibbon is helping lead the Safe Sidewalks Now campaign and is the chair of the Burien Planning Commission).

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We welcome all viewpoints, and will print those that do not contain libel and that pass our standards. All we ask is that Contributors use their real names, not lie or libel/slander anyone. Please email your opinion/letter to the editor by clicking here.]

by Ralph Nichols

Burien City Council members were presented with dismal sales tax figures from City Manager Mike Martin at the beginning of their meeting last Monday, Oct. 5th.

Through July, the city’s sales tax revenue for the year to date was down 16.2 percent compared with the same time frame in 2008, Martin reported. For July 2009, compared with July 2008, it was down 19.7 percent.

The data reflect a 14.3 percent decline in retail trade in the city, a 47 percent decline in construction-related purchases, and a 10.6 percent in accommodations and food service.

But this does not make Burien unusual. “We’re pretty much on par with our neighbors,” he observed.

NORTHEAST REDEVELOPMENT AREA
Council members heard a presentation by Scott Greenberg, Community Development Director, on proposed revisions for the city’s Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA) that, if adopted, will amend the Burien Comprehensive Plan and certain zoning designations within this area.

The NERA, located north of Sea-Tac International Airport between 8th Ave. S., S. 138th St., and Des Moines Memorial Dr., is an area that both the city and Port of Seattle, which owns much of the property there, hope is developed for business and commercial activity.

Alternative 1 in this proposal would change the existing Special Planning Area 4 designation to Airport Industrial and Professional Residential. In both areas, the current two-acre minimum for redevelopment would be eliminated.

Potential uses, according to Greenberg, include technological, light manufacturing, light industrial and offices. Auto sales and other commercial uses would be allowed in the south paort of the Airport Industrial zone.

The Professional Residential would allow for new single-family developments as well as small offices, retail uses and art studios.

Alternative 2 would include the same zoning changes, but would not include auto sales and other commercial uses.

Alternative 3 would leave the current NERA zoning unchanged.

These proposals will be introduced at the Tuesday, Oct. 13th meeting of the Burien Planning Commission at 7 p.m. in City Hall. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, a joint hearing with a hearing examiner and the planning commission will consider the proposed comprehensive plan amendments and proposed zoning changes.

Liz Ockwell, an assistant city planner, detailed for council members proposed zoning code amendments relating to land use, garages, slope, parking and landscaping for new developments.

by Scott Schaefer

Here are notes from Monday night’s (July 20th) Burien City Council Study Session (PDF agenda here, streaming video link here):

Both Mayor Joan McGilton and Councilmember Kathy Keene were absent, but with five councilmembers remaining there was enough for a quorum, so Deputy Mayor Sue Blazak ran the meeting.

STEVE ROEHMER, BURIEN PARKS OPERATION & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER:
Roehmer presented a Powerpoint about the new “Urban Forestry Plan” and outlined the Desired Outcomes:

• Hire consultant for assessment & plan deve. Eagle Landing Park, Seahurst, Salmon Creek
• Establish & implement an associated invasives removal program
• Conduct tree plantings
• Provide for public input and access to resources developed
• Complete plan by Dec. 2009

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Involve all stakeholders, including volunteers
• Facilitate w/proven professionals (has already hired Seattle Urban Nature)
• Develop management & restoration priorities adaptable to budget & operational realities
• Inventory of existing habitat types, tree density & % cover by species type
• Locations of invasive species
• GIS data layers
• Vegetative Management Plan & habitat mapping (for Eagle Land Pk & Salmon Creek)0, approx 100 acres being targeted

KEY PLANNING COMPONENTS:

• Site location & context
• Forest assessment methodology
• Property-wide results & findings, including details inventory of species & habitat types
• Zone specific results & management recommendations
• Short & long term by zone & flexible

Most focus appears to be aimed at Eagle Landing Park, and Roehmer said that all details gathered “will be accessible online.”

Councimember Lucy Krakowiak expressed her excitement and thanked him, recommending Dottie Harper Park be included as well.

Vote was 4-1 to approve the Urban Forestry Plan.

PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED ORD. #516 ON THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT:
Jenn Ramirez Robson, Management Analyst, presented the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) proposal. The TBD would be created solely for improvement of transportation in Burien, and a $25 license fee would be put on the Nov. 3rd ballot.

This tax would apply only to current residents, not annexed ones, for bicycle & pedestrian improvements for two areas of  Burien:

1. 8th Avenue South (S. 128th Street to S. 136th Street), next to Cedarhurst School; currently no sidewalk there.
2. SW and S. 136th Street (from Ambaum Boulevard to 1st Ave South and 1st Ave South to Des Moines Memorial Drive): bike lanes on both sides, make sidewalk ADA compliant.

Robson said that in 2004 over 400 residents participated in a process that recommended a Bicycles Facilities Plan, with over 20 high-priority pedestrian and bike projects identified.

According to the 2008 Burien Community Survey, a “majority of respondents” felt there is a need for more sidewalks and bike paths in their neighborhoods.

Aso of July 2008, the state of Washington allows cities to designate a TBD to fund transportation improvements.

The City Council would create a TBD, which would be funded via the $25 fee for 2 years; if not approved Nov. 3rd, said TBD is dissolved.

Timeline would be:

• Aug. 3rd TBD meeting to place ballot measure on Nov. 3rd ballot for Aug. 11th deadline
• Nov. 3rd election within current Burien boundaries vote on $25 fee for 2 year TBD program.

At 7:25pm the public hearing was opened for comment; here are some highlights of citizen comments:

Bruce Rambau suggested a “wheels tax” on Burien city employees’ salaries; he then asked how many city employees actually live in Burien;’ “why not make everyone who comes here to work pay for the upkeep of the roads?” “I don’t think it would be that offensive…if you wanna play you gotta pay.”

Don Warren spoke about how he worked on the original bikes & pedestrian plan as well as helped identify areas that Robson presented earlier. He thought that taxing people in cars for benefit of bikes & pedestrians “isn’t the best idea”; other ways would be to tox just those who use it. He supports the two projects, but to have a TBD assessment during “tough times” might not be popular, this is not a “must have” project but “it’d be nice to have.”

Chestine Edgar referenced the 2008 study and said “only 20% identified bike paths as a critical issue.” Edgar frequently challenged the report, saying “or perhaps I read it incorrectly.” She also felt that the information in the agenda was not complete, and proceeded to listed five changes. She also referenced recent cost overruns on construction on First Ave South and SW 152nd. “This city has some really large bills that it has to pay”; “including a $14 million bill to Westmark – how will that be paid?” Spoke about annexation, which will run $3 million in the red, with no cost breakdowns; “I am concerned when I see these proposals come forth, there is no real analysis of the costs and whether we can afford it.”

Roger Dorn agreed with Edgar and spoke of how he has to maintain the sidewalk in front of his house in Sumner. “Why should residents be taxed for this?” “I’m personally tired of being taxed more and more.”

Joe Fitzgibbon spoke in support, thinks $25 fee is reasonable request, works out to less than .7 cents per day per vehicle. Kids will be safe walking to school, families without cars will be safer & people who do have cars may leave them behind to ride their bikes.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT FROM MIKE MARTIN:

• Visited Water Dist. 20 reservoir which serves the North Highline area.
• On 7/14 city staff hosted an Annexation Open House; they’re now seeing a “tapering off” of attendees (was 60-70 per forum), not sure how to interpret that (EDITOR’S IDEA: bring back crummy weather dude, it’s summer!). Wed. 7/29 6:30pm is the next forum at city hall mostly “for our own residents.”
• A couple weeks ago when power was lost in the downtown area, the communication between Burien & City Light was done “poorly”l turns out that Burien wasn’t on a “special list” of agencies that get phone calls from them; Martin also felt that City Light was “unapologetic about it.” “In the future we’ll have a lot better direct communication, but now that we have a low-watt radio station (540AM) which should help get informationout, 85% of our residents could get that communication.” “I’m pleased to report that incrementally we’re improving communication issues…”
• Vandalism in the new Town Square Park on four pieces of art that were damaged or stolen; the city is still trying to figure out what their response will be to that. “We have a number of issues with the new park and the B/ IAS park also”; “We want to have a lot more public art.”
• The 4th of July was “the best in the three years I’ve been here” and while there were still illegal fireworks, it wasn’t as bad as previous years; Martin attributes this to getting the word out that fireworks are illegal in city, and that police can give out citations. He also spoke about how the city “strategically irrigated our parks in the evening”; “we were pleased about that and I hope it continues.”
• Jan Vogee was cited for winning an award for helping develop elecrical code by the Washington Associaciton of Building Officials.

Councilmember Gordon Shaw spoke:

• He mentioned that the Water Dist. 20 tour would’ve “been nice to visit” but that he wasn’t told about it. “Hopefully sometime later that will be made part of Burien.”
• With regard to the low watt radio station, Shaw, apparently never having tuned it in, asked “What is on it when there’s no emergency?”; Martin replied that there’s a 20 minute loop of announcements that can be altered via computer.

Rose Clark spoke about:

• A residents’ letter regarding Port of Seattle 3rd runway noise monitoring. She wants the city council to “write a letter to the Port asking that a noise monitor be placed in this neighborhood.”

STEPHANIE JEWETT, CITY PLANNER:
Jewett spoke about a zoning map for a subdivision of 8 homes which would remove all buildings on the lot.

5-0 was vote to approve it.

TBD public comments were then discussed:

• Sally Nelson talked about cost overruns and how they’d be addressed; Marting replied that contingency funds are “built into the TBD estimates”;
• Shaw thinks some of the funding may come from federal stimulus funding
• Martin said that’s “very unlikely”
• Shaw then cited that 21st Ave SW has much less sidewalk than SW 136th and that there may be other places where this money could be used; he then expressed that he’s opposed to the TBD.
• Blazak then said she supports the idea, was involved in planning process, and this is one of the reasons she wanted to be on the city council.
• Krakowiak also supports the TBD.

Vote was 4-1 approving the TBD. It appears that the next steps will be:

• Aug. 3rd TBD meeting to place ballot measure on Nov. 3rd ballot for Aug. 11th deadline.
• Nov. 3rd election within current Burien boundaries vote on $25 fee for 2 year TBD program.

by Gina Bourdage

Here are notes from Monday night’s (April 6th) Burien City Council meeting (link to PDF agenda here):

LEVY SUPPORTS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES:
A recent survey found that 50% of homeless men in our area are veterans. In 2005, the Veterans and Human Services levy was passed to generate funding to veterans, military personnel and their families housing and support services. The levy approved $13.3 million dollars dedicated  to help both veterans and residents in need of human services.

Two citizen boards were appointed to allocate the funds to reach specific goals within the program.

Sadikifu Akina-James from the King County of Veterans Affairs broke down the five strategies within the program;

• Enhancing services and access for veterans
• Ending homelessness through outreach, prevention, permanent supportive housing and employment
• Increasing access to behavioral health services
• Strengthening families at risk
• Increasing effectiveness of resource management and evaluation
• Beginning in 2005 the levy will remain until 2011.

For more information visit www.kingcounty.gov

CITY MANAGER MIKE MARTIN’S NEWS FLASH:
Wednesday, April 8th at Dottie Harper Park the city will celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree in memory of former mayor Dottie Harper. Bring your family and celebrate the holiday starting at Noon.

Burien is proceeding with low watt radio project for emergency broadcasts. In the case of emergency tune to AM 540. The project is projected to be complete by the end of April 2009.

After discovering that the City of Seattle is the only city with laws extending beyond the State of Washington, Burien is now looking into developing or adopting new requirements to set a higher standard for renters in the Burien area [EDITOR'S NOTE: This was an issue brought to the City Council meeting a few weeks ago by a concerned resident who wanted to be heard and it looks like the city is truly listening. It pays to speak up!].

Disputes over Puget Sound Park, located in the northern part of North Highline, cause the areas fate to up for discussion. The City of Seattle wants to sell and build low income housing and just about everyone else wants to keep the area a community park. White Center councils are not in favor of the proposed transition. A public review meeting is set for April 22nd from 4-6pm at 1000 Oaksdale Ave SW in Renton. Everyone is encouraged to attend and voice their opinion.

“Because we are so close to annexation we don’t feel this is a good idea to be making this sort of decision.” – City Manager Mike Martin

NEW SUBDIVISION AT 13032 AMBAUM BLVD. SW:
The council approved preliminary proposal 291, granting use of land in the neighborhood of 132nd to be developed into single family homes. Currently the lot is wooded and unused. The proposal includes six subdivisions, including a five-foot sidewalk and a storm water run off which current residents would be able to access to prevent drainage issues.

SEAHURST PARK AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT:
Seahurst Park Master Plan presented a restoration project including restoration efforts to return the area to a more natural environment, improve access to trails and improve natural seawall . Several options for direction area were proposed and are available at www.burienwa.gov/index.asp?NID=311.

Currently the Parks Department is seeking funding to move forward.

LIVING ROAD OF REMEMBRANCE:
Preservation efforts for Des Moines Memorial Drive and creation of a new memorial park were proposed. The NE corner of South 136th and Des Moines Way South is one suggestion for the location of a new memorial park which would include a memorial wall, seating area and more. Improvement plans would include the current memorial wall at Sunnydale Elementary, but expansion is not likely due to space restrictions.

The current wall does not include all of the Highline residents that died in World War I. The restoration project, with the help of Highline Historical Society, would include all of those names which have been compiled.

The city of Seatac would take on the majority of the cost for the new park. Some fundraising will have to be done to supplement the cost. The Burien City Council supported the efforts.

The restoration committee hopes to have the project complete by 2012. For more information visit www.roadofremembrance.org

BURIEN TO REFUND TAXES:
Due to an oversight in the wording of the Business and Operations tax bill the City of Burien collected too much in taxes from some business owners. In all about 35 people were effected to a total of $900.

The City is planning on refunding the $900 and correcting the wording of the tax measure to prevent future issues.

“It’s not only a legal, but a moral obligation to refund the money.” said council member Kathy Keene.

STUDENTS TO MAKE SCULPTURE FOR ART PARK:
A recent arts commission meeting proposed installation of a sculpture with a fish and a revolving eagle above the fish, made by the Puget Sound Skills center students and designed by a welding instructor.

The sculpture would be included in the BIAS Interum Art Space.

The city council’s next regular meeting will be held at 7pm on Monday, April 13th.

BREAKING NEWS: In an emergency afternoon session, the Burien City Council voted today to impose a 20 percent internet tax on all users within the city boundaries.

“With the downturn in the economy we are continually looking for alternative sources of income,” said a city official via email. “We can’t install any more red light cameras now, and since most of our residents just sit in their double-wides surfing the internet, we thought this could be a great source of additional revenue.”

While discussions of increased sales tax, gas tax and coffee tax were all discussed, the internet was the resounding favorite for most widespread usage in the community.

“We know this may be shocking to some residents, which is why we decided to not implement our 35 percent tax on cell phone use in the city until late May 2009,” said another official, this time via Twitter.

Burien residents will see the new internet tax on their next statement from their internet provider. The tax will vary for users depending on their frequency of use and local relevance of websites they view.

One rather unusual aspect of this new tax is that, effective Monday, April 8th, all previously-free internet-connected computers at area libraries will function only via $2 bills inserted into newly-installed money slots. For $2, users will receive eight minutes of website use.

Percentages of tax increase will range from 5%-20%, with more locally-relevant websites like The B-Town Blog resulting in a 17.9% tax for all Readers. On the low end of the scale, where Readers can actually earn tax revenue for “reading” will be websites lacking in any local relevance, such as this one.

“On the bright side, some internet users may actually make money for reading locally-irrelevant websites chock full of old news, typographical errors, and mid-90s style web layout,” stated another official on her Facebook page.

From the City of Burien website:

The United Way of King County is offering free, quality tax preparation and electronic filing for residents from IRS-certified, multilingual volunteers.

No income limits and no appointment necessary.

Avoid paying high and unnecessary fees or taking rapid refund loans from commercial preparers.

You may be eligible for a larger refund by claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Save some of your refund. Bring in your bank account information and have your refund directly deposited.

We can help you apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification number (ITIN).

We only prepare basic individual tax returns.

We do not prepare business taxes, or returns that include sale of property or stock or rental income.

For more information, dial 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-9274, or go to unitedwayofkingcounty.org/taxcampaign

DATES/LOCATIONS:

January 15 – April 15, 2008

BURIEN:

ACORN of King County Prosperity Center
134 SW 153rd Street, Suite D, 98166
Thursdays 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

WHITE CENTER:

Salvation Army Community Center
9050 16th Ave. SW, 98106
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

White Center Assembly
10237 16th Avenue SW, 98146
Thursdays 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturdays 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For more information and full details, download this PDF.