Southwest Washington is a special place to me. I moved here about seven years ago, right before my partner and I had our son, and since then I’ve become deeply invested in our community. In the last few years, I’ve particularly worked with many small business leaders and with advocates in housing to address affordability. I now have the privilege of working with the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition, a coalition of 36 organizations that is committed to advancing racial equity in Southwest Vancouver. It is this work and my love for my community, on top of being a parent in Evergreen Public Schools, that are the reasons why I’ll be voting no on I-645 this November.

By repealing Washington’s Millionaires Tax, this harmful initiative would blow a $13 billion hole in Washington’s state budget. This is funding that would support our schools and our healthcare system, while also funding sales tax reductions on common purchases like hygiene products, over-the-counter medication and diapers, free school meals for all K-12 students, and historic tax breaks for small businesses and lower-income families.

When I think about the impact of the Millionaires Tax, I’m thinking in particular about a friend of mine, who runs a small barber shop where four other barbers pay a nominal fee to rent chairs and serve their own hard-earned clientele. Funding from the Millionaires Tax will double the small business tax credit, meaning my friend will pay thousands of dollars less in Business and Occupation (B&O) taxes. Small businesses create jobs and employ locals, and they are also what make up the culture and vibrancy of our area. Looking around the Fourth Plane Corridor, or up and down our Main Street, I know that our area would not be the same without them. Like in much of the United States, small businesses are the backbone of our community. If I-645 passes, it will be a slap in the face to so many hard-working, working-class families across our state.

I was excited when I learned that the Millionaires Tax also doubles the reach of our state Working Families Tax Credit, meaning an additional 30,000 households in Clark County will get a refund of up to $1,330. The credit will reach more young adults and seniors, who without the Millionaires Tax, wouldn’t be eligible. Young adults in particular are facing economic pressures that mean making rent, paying for school, and building a future for themselves feels out of reach – mostly because of student debt and the high cost of housing. A cash boost from the Working Families Tax Credit will mean they have extra cash in their pockets to pay for school supplies, to fix their car or pay for car insurance, or to be able to put a little bit of money away. I want that for my own kids when they reach young adulthood. And, when more people in our community have money to spend, our small businesses also benefit.

It’s so messed up how upside-down our state tax code is. Working people with lower incomes pay around 14% of their income in taxes, while the wealthy few in our state pay around 4%. In Clark County’s 17th, 18th, and 49th legislative districts, home to a combined 475,000 residents as of the last Census count, fewer than 800 households would pay the Millionaire’s Tax! And arguments that these folks would leave our state for other states, frankly, are silly; the wealthiest 1% pay higher taxes in 42 other states in the Union.

I am proud to be a taxpayer in Washington, because I believe in fully funded public education, I love our parks, and I want everyone in my community to be able to access healthcare when they need it. But our tax code doesn’t reflect those values; it’s rigged in favor of the ultra-wealthy and mega-corporations, who skate by without paying what they owe. I’m tired of the status quo, and I want more for Vancouver. And that’s why I am asking my neighbors to vote no on I-645 Nov 3rd. Join me.

Siobhana R. McEwen lives in east Vancouver with their spouse, two kids and two dogs, where they serve as the executive director of the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition and the Love and Justice Alliance, two small nonprofits headquartered in Vancouver that work to advance equitable public policy and support a vibrant and thriving community for everyone. They are on the board of the Washington State Budget and Policy Center.