The City of Shoreline has taken aggressive steps to reduce costs and assure efficiency, including more than one million dollars in budget cuts, staff reductions and elimination of cost-of-living pay raises. Since 2001, Shoreline’s property tax levy increase has been limited to 1% a year, while inflation has gone up nearly 3 times as fast, and as a result funding has not kept pace for basic City services.
If approved, Proposition 1 would maintain current levels of police and emergency services including neighborhood safety patrols, traffic enforcement in school zones and neighborhoods, east and west-side police store-front programs, school safety officer in Shorewood and Shorecrest high schools, enforcement of drug and vice laws, and community crime prevention programs. Proposition 1 would preserve safe, well-maintained and accessible parks and trails; playgrounds and play equipment that meet safety standards, playfields, restrooms and the Shoreline pool; and preserve recreation programs for youth, families and seniors. Proposition 1 would continue funding for community services including the Shoreline senior center and youth programs.
If approved, any increase in the annual levy would not exceed
inflation (Seattle region CPI-U) for 2012-2016. Proposition 1 would set the City’s property tax rate below the legal limit of $1.60 at $1.48/$1,000 assessed valuation for collection in 2011 and will use the 2016 levy amount to calculate subsequent levy limits. The typical homeowner would pay an additional average of $9.25 per month to maintain police and emergency protection, parks and recreation, and community services.
