UPDATE | APRIL 9, 2014
According to the Washington State Legislature website, HB 1287 was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on April 3, 2014. The law becomes effective on June 12, 2014.
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In a March 24, 2014, press release, the City of Snoqualmie alerted residents that House Bill (HB) 1287, which if signed into law would have local homeowners pick up the property tax obligations for the Muckleshoot Tribe, owners of the 
Salish Lodge, could become law on April 5th – even without Governor Inslee’s signature.
Mayor Larson attempted to get face time with the governor this past week, but due to Inslee’s focus on the Oso Mudslide disaster, there hasn’t been time for a meeting. As of Friday, March 28th, Inslee had not yet signed or vetoed HB 1287.
According to the press release, the City of Snoqualmie, and its residents and taxpayers, “have a vested interested in having Governor Jay Inslee veto House Bill 1287, which would waive property tax obligations on all property owned exclusively by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Washington State,” including off-reservation properties like the Salish Lodge.
If House Bill 1287 becomes law, the average single-family household in Snoqualmie may have $30 added to its annual property tax bill beginning in 2015 to assume the tax burden just for the Salish Lodge & Spa, owned by the Muckleshoot Tribe.
Property tax exemptions for other property owned by either the Snoqualmie Tribe or Muckleshoot Tribe within Snoqualmie, North Bend, or unincorporated King County could potentially raise taxes even higher.
Property owners in Snoqualmie would see the first impacts starting with the first property tax collection in April 2015.
HB 1287 can become law without the governor’s signature
The bill passed the legislature and was delivered to Governor Inslee for signature or veto. If a bill is presented to the Governor within five days of the legislature’s adjournment (as in the case of HB 1287), the Governor has twenty days after adjournment (excluding Sundays) to sign or veto it.
So… if Governor Inslee does not veto or sign HB 1287 by April 5th, it will become law.
The City of Snoqualmie is encouraging residents to contact the governor, indicating opposition to House Bill 1287 and request that it be vetoed.
- Call the Governor’s office at 360-902-4111
- Email the Governor via his website
More information
Details about House Bill 1287 are available on the City of Snoqualmie homepage, including an op-ed by Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson.
Comments
Think about it, friends. The Salish revenues don’t help our city. The Salish revenues don’t benefit the Snoqualmie Tribe. Everything about the Muckelshoot buying the SNOQUALMIE Falls tribal property benefits the Muckelshoot.
I’m not against the tribe benefiting from their business — but we the residents of Snoqualmie should not be required to pay their taxes. That’s plain nuts.
When I called the governor’s office, the gentleman I spoke with seemed to agree with my statement. When you call, please emphasize in your message that the Snoqualmie tribe and Snoqualmie Homeowners don’t benefit at all from this odd bill. No where in tribal relations do the citizens of the nation pay directly for the tribal property tax.
The MUCKELSHOOT BOUGHT THE LAND — They should pay their own taxes. IF they are exempt for some reason, the exemption should NOT be passed on to us.
PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL THE GOVERNOR NOW. YOUR THREE MINUTES WILL SAVE A LOT MORE THAN YOUR LOST TIME.
Nancy Lamb