State law allows cities to impose a city utility tax up to 6 percent without voter approval. Covington imposed a 6 percent utility tax on gross income with no deductions for state or city utility taxes.

Last year Covington collected $2,003,000 in utility taxes from local residents.

Check out your Puget Sound Energy bill. The effective city tax rate is 6.65 percent. Covington defines taxable income as utility charges plus state taxes plus utility taxes.

Then taxes the total at 6 percent.

Taxing the taxes collecting more than 6 percent from the citizens.

This is just plain wrong and should be corrected immediately by the City Council. Check your other utility bills and call the councilmembers.

Larry Stevenson

Covington