In 2012, Normandy Park citizens successfully voted to raise our levy rate to match those of surrounding cities. The rate was then increased to the statutory maximum of $1.60 /$1,000 Assessed Valuation for 2013, declining each year as valuations have increased. The City is limited to raising property tax collections at one percent per year without a public vote, yet the cost of City services continues to grow at approximately the rate of inflation.

Our City is primarily a residential community and is strongly reliant on property taxes. City revenues only provide enough for essential services at very lean staffing levels. There is little left in the budget to cut. If we do not raise the levy rate back to the $1.60 level, we will have to reduce City staffing, police services, and road projects for the 2016 and subsequent budgets. This could include the loss of two or more Officer positions, which would affect public safety – yours and our Officers. We are already down one Officer position.

The wording of the proposition keeps collections at, or just below, the $1.60 rate for up to six years.

Keep our City protected and our Officers safe…Vote Yes on Prop 1!

Statement submitted by: Clarke Brant,
206-824-2108

In response to years of punishing 6% annual tax increases, Washington voters passed I-747 in 2002, limiting jurisdictions to a 1% annual increase in actual revenues.

In 2010, our local voters approved splitting the Parks District off from the city, to keep our police, increasing taxes for city services by 38.6%. In 2013, we voted again to approve an increase in the city taxes, to keep our police, permanently increasing revenues by another 13.4%.

With 2015’s projected 15% property valuation increase, Prop. 1 increases our actual taxes an additional 25% for 2016, and 6% annually for 5 more years, once again to keep our police. Will this ever stop?

Compounded with previous tax increases, it’s a whopping 263% increase in city taxes in only ten years, far more than if our taxes had increased 6% every year since I-747 was passed in 2002!

The problem is not police costs, it’s bad fiscal management by the council and staff who wasted millions in litigation costs, attorneys fees, project budgets and, yes, still want a new city hall. Of course we need more revenue, but we deserve a different, better tax package than we are offered here.

Vote No on Prop 1.

Statements submitted by: John Rankin,
206-835-2853

No statement was submitted prior to the deadline.

Prop. 1 offers the taxpayers no tax limit protection!  Had it been in place last year when assessed valuations went from $1.06B in 2014, to $1.24B in 2015, taxes would have increased 17% in just one year.

Demand a tax plan that delivers the revenue the city needs, but also provides certainty for taxpayers.

Vote No on Prop. 1

Download the full text of the resolution

Simple majority (RCW 84.55.050)