The City’s Fiscal Turnaround
Seattle’s rapid debt reduction and infrastructure growth are hailed as a success story for low-tax policy.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
With a greatly reduced rate of taxation, the Territory is enabled to collect revenue sufficient to pay all bills, keep out of debt, and have a little money always on hand. With a greatly reduced rate of taxation, the city of Seattle during the past year reduced its debt one-half, paid all expenses besides, bought a lot, and built a City Hall, bought a steam fire engine, truck, etc. Six months hence the city will wipe the last vestige of its debt out of existence. During the past year, at a greatly reduced rate of taxation, this school district, for the first time in its history, had money in plenty and to spare. The lower rate of taxation yields a revenue per capita of $8.10 for every child in the district, against $7.06 the year before under the higher rate. The philosophy in all this is that high taxation doesn't pay. Fix the rates low and property owners will be more honest in making their returns.
“The philosophy in all this is that high taxation doesn't pay. Fix the rates low and property owners will be more honest in making their returns.”
This 1883 editorial reflects an early Seattle obsession with lean governance and property-value-driven growth. It mirrors modern debates about tax burdens versus public service investment, though today's city government—unlike the 1883 council—is frequently criticized for failing to pay off its debts as quickly as it accumulates them.
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