Ensuring sufficient funding for criminal justice services, including police, jails, prosecution, courts, public defense and domestic violence advocacy, are important budget priorities of the Carnation City Council. If approved, Proposition 1 would provide additional revenue that would be specifically earmarked for these purposes, as well as helping to stabilize the City’s monetary reserves.
State law allows cities to “lift” the cap on regular property tax levy increases by obtaining voter approval of the proposed increase. The City’s regular property tax rate is currently $1.29 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. If Proposition 1 is approved, the City’s tax rate for collection in 2012 would increase by $0.61 to $1.90 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Assuming a 4.12 percent decrease in the City’s 2012 total assessed valuation consistent with recent historical trends, the proposition would generate approximately $100,000 in additional property tax revenue for 2012. These additional funds would be used exclusively to fund criminal justice services and to help stabilize the City’s monetary reserves.
For properties valued at $350,000, landowners currently pay approximately $451.50 per year in City of Carnation property taxes. Under Proposition 1, this amount would increase to $665.00 for collection in 2012.
The 2012 levy amount would become the base upon which levy increases for years 2013 through 2017 would be computed.
