Hey neighbor,
If you’ve felt that your paycheck isn’t going as far these days—you’re not imagining it. Between sky-high gas prices and rising housing costs, folks across the 24th Legislative District are having real conversations around the dinner table about what they can actually afford.
So let’s break it down in plain English—no political jargon, just what you need to know.
⛽ First, Let’s Talk Gas
As of July 1st, Washington’s gas tax jumped to 55 cents per gallon—that’s not including federal taxes or other climate-related fees. When you total it all up, we’re paying over $1 per gallon in taxes. That’s the third highest gas tax in the nation.
Now, you might be thinking:
“Well, I don’t drive that much, so maybe it won’t hit me too hard.”
But here’s the thing—gas prices affect more than just your commute. Every product you buy at the store—your groceries, your Amazon packages, your kid’s school supplies—gets delivered by someone using fuel. When fuel costs go up, so does the price of everything else. It’s a ripple effect.
Translation: higher gas tax = higher cost of living.
🏠Now, About Housing
If you’re looking to buy a home—or help your kids buy their first place—it’s a tough time. The median home price in Washington is around $653,000. Even starter homes are feeling out of reach for many working families.
And while lawmakers passed a bunch of new housing laws this year, it’s still unclear how much they’ll actually help in the short term.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Rent increases are now capped at around 7–10% per year (good news if you’re renting).
- More duplexes and fourplexes are allowed in neighborhoods to open up housing supply.
- Developers can build faster thanks to relaxed zoning and permitting rules.
- But… new local real estate taxes may be coming for high-value home sales to fund affordable housing (which might be passed along to buyers).
Sounds helpful, right? And it could be—eventually. But these changes take time, and we’re still seeing families priced out today.
đź’¬ What Does This Mean for You?
Simple: your dollar isn’t stretching like it used to.
- That quick trip to Costco or the grocery store now costs more to get there—and once you’re there, you’re paying more for what’s on the shelves.
- If you’re renting, you might feel slightly more stable—but saving up to buy a home feels harder than ever.
- If you already own a home, property taxes and utilities are creeping up, too.
And for families on a fixed income, young couples starting out, or folks recovering from financial hardship, it feels like the rules are being rewritten—and not in your favor.
🤝 What Can We Do?
Here in LD24, we believe that you shouldn’t have to be an economist or a policy expert to afford a good life. That’s why we’re committed to keeping you informed, pushing for transparency, and advocating for common-sense solutions that actually help working families—not just sound good in Olympia.
So next time you fill your gas tank or look at a home listing online, just know:
You’re not alone in wondering why everything costs more. And we’re here to keep asking the hard questions until something changes.
If you’ve got questions, concerns, or just want to share your story, we’d love to hear from you.
📬 Stay connected. Join the conversation. Your voice matters—especially when prices are this high.
#LD24 #WashingtonGasTax #HousingCrisisWA #CostOfLiving #FamiliesFirst #WAlegislation #RealTalk