The Battle Over Public Power in Seattle
A new citizens' association forms to oppose Initiative 52, arguing that municipal expansion into private power markets threatens the tax base.
The story, cleaned up
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“You can’t reduce taxes by reducing the taxpayers.” This is the slogan of a new organization of citizens of Seattle, formed to save the taxpayers from the impending menace of the Bone Bill, which comes before the voters of Washington in the November 4 election in the form of an initiative. The name of this organization is the Citizens' Association Against Initiative 52. Alpheus Byers heads the executive committee, all of whom are homeowners and taxpayers. The committee believes Initiative 52, which would authorize cities to acquire private electric company properties by council vote rather than public vote, would endanger the success of municipal light and power plants by overextending the city into state-wide utility markets without compensating advantages.
“You can’t reduce taxes by reducing the taxpayers.”
The debate over municipal versus private ownership of utilities remains a persistent feature of Washington politics. This 1924 conflict over the 'Bone Bill' highlights a century-old tension between civic-managed infrastructure and the tax implications of public acquisition.
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