OLYMPIA, WA (MYBELLINGHAMNOW.COM) – State Senate Republicans held a news conference Thursday to blast a bill that would raise the cap on annual property tax increases.

Senator John Braun of Centralia said the move goes directly against the will of the people.

He pointed out that six initiatives have gained enough signatures to go before the legislature, and four of them are aimed at cutting taxes.

He chides Democrats for introducing this measure in the face of that push back against recent tax increases.

The bill that has passed out of committee would allow local and state government to raise property taxes by up to 3% annually.

The current limit is 1% without a vote of the people.

Some local governments say they’re facing budget shortfalls and major cuts in service because of the pressures of price and wage inflation.

SB 5770 is currently before the full Senate.