The Northwest Enterprise

Property tax limitation, which voters of Washington state have upheld for nearly eight years, never was more important than at present, H. F. Syford of Tacoma, chairman of the state 40-Mill Tax Limit Committee, declared today.

Increased federal taxation, for the armament program which national defense has made necessary, is a certainty. Syford pointed out, and the necessity for economy in local governments and for keeping down other taxes is evident.

"The 40-Mill Tax Limit on real and personal property has been passed by the people of the state by initiative four times. They must pass it again this year, as Referendum No. 5, if they wish to continue the protection they have enjoyed since 1932," Syford said.

"We know what tax limitation has accomplished—how it has reduced tax delinquency, made it possible for many to keep possession of their homes and farms, encouraged industries to locate in this state. But now, when we are faced with increased federal taxes, we need the 40-Mill Limit more than ever. We must urge economy in local government and all must fight together to retain the principle of property tax limitation."

This year's 40-Mill Tax Limit law appears on the ballot at the general election November 4 as Referendum No. 5. It reenacts the present law, passed as Initiative 129 in 1938, except that it definitely allocated the state's two mills to institutions of higher learning.