Skagit Valley loses $1 Billion in taxes
🚨 Skagit County & the Skagit Valley are paying a BIG price as part of Washington’s TOP DONOR STATE status!
🚨Washington ranks 3rd nationally in net federal contributions — we send WAY more in taxes than we get back in spending. Latest USAFacts data shows a net loss of about $7,139 per person every year.
For Skagit County (home to roughly 133,000–135,000 people in Mount Vernon, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, and the Valley), that means an estimated nearly $1 BILLION leaves our local economy annually — money that could stay here supporting our farms, tulip fields, ports, tourism, small businesses, schools, roads, and water/irrigation projects!
That's almost $1 BILLION not recirculating in OUR community — instead, it's subsidizing other states while we face ag challenges, drought risks, housing needs, and rural infrastructure strains.
Small Businesses, Farms & Ag Economy Feel It the Most
Skagit's backbone — family farms, bulb growers (like tulips!), value-added ag businesses, agritourism spots, local shops, breweries, contractors, and tourism operators — get hit hardest:
Higher local taxes & fees to cover the federal shortfall: More reliance on sales, property, and other taxes squeezes small farms and businesses with thin margins, already battling rising costs, weather risks, and seasonal work.
Fewer federal grants & relief programs: Donor states like ours get less per capita for USDA support, SBA loans, drought/disaster aid (critical for our crops!), rural development grants, or agritourism funding compared to "recipient" states.
Ripple effects on jobs & spending: Less federal investment means fewer contracts, wages, and support for key sectors — leading to tougher times for restaurants, retail, farm stands, suppliers, and the whole local supply chain in our beautiful but cost-challenged region.
Extra pressure on farms & community needs: Shortfalls hit irrigation/water projects, farmland preservation, rural health, and tourism infrastructure hard, affecting families, workers, and the $300+ million ag economy that feeds the nation.
Our fertile valley, hardworking farmers, and vibrant tourism generate huge value for the state and country, but we're acting like the nation's ATM while our own challenges (farm viability, housing, small business survival) go underfunded. Frustrating for a region known as one of the most productive ag areas in the U.S.!
Want more facts, details, and ways to push for change? Check out Repatriate Washington PAC — a local group educating voters and fighting to end our donor state status:
👉 https://www.repatriatewa.org/
They nail it: Washington sends billions more than we receive — time to demand fairness for ALL parts of the state, including the Skagit Valley!
What do you think, Skagit folks? Time for more federal equity, or state-level solutions to support our farms and small businesses? Comment below! 💬 #SkagitCounty #SkagitValley #MountVernon #Anacortes #WashingtonState #DonorState #AgEconomy #Smal0lBusiness #RepatriateWA