INITIATIVE 864 is, says Pat Thompson, like taking a meat ax to local government.

It will result in layoffs and cuts in wages and benefits for city and county employees, Thompson, who is Council 2’s Deputy Director, adds. The initiative would hit roads, parks and libraries, which rely heavily on property taxes, particularly hard.

I-864, one of two initiatives to be proposed this year by professional initiative promoter Tim Eyman, calls for a 25 percent cut to some local government property taxes.

Not only does it threaten local government jobs, it also would prove a job killer to the business community, says Thompson. “Businesses are not going to want to be located in a state that has inadequate funding for parks, libraries and roads.”

Eyman and his supporters have until July 2 to collect 197,374 valid signatures to earn a spot on the November general election ballot.

Eyman also is promoting Initiative 892, which would result in an estimated $400 million cut to the state general fund. It would allow non-tribal mini-casinos to install 18,900 video lottery terminals, which look like slot machines.

In an e-mail to his supporters, Eyman said that he is paying himself $3,100 a week from the Just Treat Us The Same committee, the group he formed to promote the ballot measure.

This committee is being supported by gambling interests who are no doubt subsidizing his efforts on I-864 as well, Thompson says.

People need to be aware that many of the signature gatherers for the initiatives are paid for each signature they collect, Thompson explains. Council 2 needs help in getting the message out on the signature gatherers, he adds. Anyone interested in volunteering should call Council 2 offices.

“If you see a signature gatherer, call the Voter Education Project at 1-800-856-2465,” Thompson says. “The idea is to leaflet around them.

“Many gather fraudulent signatures and we want to do all we can to stop them.”

The Voter Education Project suggests you ask signature gatherers if they are being paid, find out their names and take their pictures (alone). “We would like to identify as many as possible.”