I really have to agree with the writer of the letter to the editor in the Jan. 29 issue of the Auburn Reporter titled, “Enough with tax increases, vote no on levy”.

The school district says that the projected school tax rate will remain level. The key word is “projected” as from 2012 to 2015 the projections have been under estimated by about an 11 percent average resulting in higher taxes than voted on.

It appears that “level” is a euphemism for higher.

Out of the 20 school districts in King County, Auburn has the third-highest school property tax rate, helping to ensure that King County continues to maintain its record as having the highest property tax rate in Washington.

In 2013, my school taxes were $1,026, in 2015 they were $1,308, about a 27 percent increase. Maybe the tax rate was supposed to be level but my tax is sure a lot higher, and with the property values surging the property taxes will increase even more.

To make matters even worse, Puget Sound Transit is considering a $15 billion transportation levy in 2016 that, if passed, would require a $.25/1,000 accessed value on property, a .5 percent increase in sales tax (we now pay 9.5 percent in Auburn) and a motor vehicle excise tax of $80 annually for each $10,000 of vehicle value.

The transit levy hasn’t been finalized yet but the specter of these draconian additional taxes is looming over all Auburn residents.

Remember, voters approved a $17.8 billion tax package for Sound Transit in 2008. Oh yeah, just read this morning in the Auburn Reporter that the City of Auburn wants to impose a $20 car fee tab for road repair.

– Chester H. Wells Jr.