05:27 PM PDT on Monday, April 12, 2004

By ROBERT MAK / KING 5 News

KING Gubernatorial candidate and King County Executive Ron Sims said a state income is the best way to prevent cuts to education.

King County Executive Ron Sims says the time has come to create a state income tax.

As a candidate for governor, Sims says it's the only way to pay for schools and education.

Many politicians privately agree that a state income tax is much more fair than a sales tax, which places a much disproportionate burden on the poor.

But publicly, those same politicians say an income tax is political suicide.

On Monday, Sims did what few other politicians are willing to do.

"When I talk about income tax, I say sure, do I favor that system over other systems the answer is yes," Sims said Monday.

"If you're wealthy, why shouldn't you pay more? Why shouldn't you? It's not going to be a flat-rate for everybody, I propose a graduated rate, but shouldn't wealthy people pay more?"

And Sims isn't being particularly cautious either.

In the past, some have suggested that the state could make an even trade, collect the same amount of money, but replace the sales tax with an income tax.

But on Monday, it wasn't an even trade Sims was proposing. He said the state should collect more money with an income tax, and do it to pay for teacher salaries, smaller class sizes and to keep tuition within reach at community colleges and universities.

"I want to change the tide, and I'll need the revenues to get there and right now, the existing revenue structures of the State of Washington, the existing structure, does not allow you to fund education as it should be in this state," Sims said.

Sims said that the other candidates who pride themselves in saying they have put together a no-new taxes budget are going to end up cutting education.

"They're going to cut education. That's the only way you can do it. You're going to cut education."

Sims also defended his proposal against the charge that it was a desperate attempt by a man lagging in the polls to shore up his campaign for governor.

"No, I've never felt desperate in my life, so I don't know what desperation is, and I don't believe in political gimmickry," he said.

Creating a state income tax would require a two-thirds vote of the legislature and a public vote because it would require a change to the state constitution.

Gubernatorial candidates Christine Gregoire and Phil Talmadge both said they don't believe an income tax is needed.