COUNCIL 2 IS READY to fight Initiative 747 with everything that it can muster. Every member will be called on to help in the battle against the biggest threat to members’ jobs ever.

The initiative qualified to go on the November ballot in early July after the sponsor, Tim Eyman, collected the required number of signatures.

His success in gathering the signatures was not a surprise. But Council 2’s vigorous anti-I-747 campaign caused Eyman to spend $400,000 to gather them, which, at this stage, far exceeds spending on any of his earlier initiative efforts.

The initiative seeks to cap property tax increases at 1 percent — below the inflation rate of nearly 4 percent — instead of the present 6 percent limit. If local government revenues cannot keep pace with inflation, neither will the services, hence the threat to the jobs of Council 2 members.

"Local government is about directly servicing the public and if they don’t have the revenues those services will be cut," says Pat Thompson, Director of Legislation/Political Action for Council 2.

As part of the effort to fight the initiative, Council 2 is putting together a coalition of business and labor.

"Everybody recognizes the harm the initiative will do to our state and its business climate," Thompson says. "It is not just union members who are opposing this initiative."

But every Council 2 member also will be called upon to fight to initiative at the grass-roots level. "We are going to need our members to reach out as they never have before to their fellow workers, neighbors and friends and to tell them how devastating the impact on services will be," says Council 2 President and Executive Director Chris Dugovich.

"We need to tell them of the impact on services such as roads, libraries, parks and fire protection.

"In addition, we will be putting together efforts for doorbelling and setting up yard signs that members need to be plugged into. You are being called upon to help" Those who don’t have specific tasks should contact their Council 2 Staff Representative and ask what they can do.

"Given the popularity of tax cuts, we certainly have our work cut out for us," adds Dugovich.