The City of Kent is faced with the prospect of closing parks or park facilities as well as creating road restrictions unless necessary infrastructure projects are undertaken. Many of our parks and streets are growing older and need repair to keep them from becoming unsafe liabilities. If we don’t take care of these assets, some may have to be closed or restricted until they can be made safe and usable again. The longer we delay, the higher the costs.

Continuous city budget reductions have forced constant reprioritizations. Citizens committees were formed; after which community members reviewed and prioritized the needs of our parks and roads, paring the list down to those most critical. You can see the list of specific projects at www.SaveOurParksAndStreets.org

Public safety carries costs. We know that no one wants higher taxes. However, as citizens, it is our responsibility to maintain the great park system and safe streets that our families and friends enjoy and use on a daily basis. This levy will help maintain this legacy for our children and grandchildren. This is a quality of life decision for our community.

Roads: On a $300,000 home you pay approximately $2,610 in Bellevue and $3,969 in Kent in property taxes; over $1,300 more in Kent because businesses in Kent don’t have to pay to repair city roads which commercial trucks do most damage to. 

Parks: It’s the worst time to ask people to pay to repair assets that could be discarded.  Is it more important to repair a dock or to keep money in resident’s pockets for food?  Residents are already overburdened.  $111.00 for that same $300,000 homeowner can mean a choice between milk and paying taxes.

This is not the last ask discussed by levy committees.  The plan is for a large bond next year if they “sell” this idea for homeowner taxation. If the burden was spread between residents and businesses the solution would be affordable to all, but some council members, pressured by Chamber, would not ask for the help of business. This levy is not good for small business because it takes disposable income from residents who spend it in local restaurants and retail. It’s not good for residents because it takes the money residents would spend on necessities or save. This is too much money.

www.taxingkent.com

The Con statement is misleading. Kent isn’t Bellevue.
Home prices are higher in Bellevue, which also has a much larger retail tax base.

The Property tax levy of $0.37/$1000 applies to both residential and business property which includes the large warehouse facilities in the Kent Valley.

The City Council is seeking an additional $4-6 million in revenue from businesses for road maintenance.

The City Council will determine this revenue source by the end of 2012.”

Statement submitted by: Mark Prothero, Ken Sharp and Gina Tallarigo
www.SaveOurParksAndStreets.org

Don’t be fooled; parks won’t close if the levy doesn’t pass. Kent thrives when we work together, citizens and businesses, to solve our community’s challenges. We agree that vibrant parks and drivable streets are priorities. However, for too long Kent residents have carried the tax burden while nearby communities have collectively funded their infrastructure needs—with lower taxes for citizens. This proposal is more of the same. It’s no wonder it narrowly passed our Council.

Statement submitted by: Michelle McDowell and Christine Budell
ccduke@hotmail.com