Vote ‘Yes’ on Proposition 1:  Enhanced Police Services  & Community Safety

While Kirkland is a thriving city, even thriving cities lack resources to meet evolving public safety needs. Urgent public safety issues confronting the community include school safety, increased crime (car prowls/burglaries), domestic violence, drug addiction, gun violence and homelessness. More resources are needed on our streets and in our schools to continue to keep Kirkland safe.

For just one penny on a $10 purchase, Proposition 1 provides five new police officers and one support staff dedicated to solving property/drug-related crimes; four new school resource officers for middle schools (cost shared equally with LWSD); mental health resources for people in crisis; programs to improve the wellbeing of youth, suicide prevention, domestic violence prevention and drug addiction services; gun safety training/safe storage; and funding to reduce homelessness.

Polls show public safety is a top priority. This proposition is consistent with the community’s preference over other revenue-generating options i.e. an increase to property tax/car tab fees. Proposition 1 provides much needed enhancements to public safety that will make Kirkland an even better place to live, work and play.

Please join us in voting ‘Yes’ on Proposition 1.

We need to vote against this tax increase.  Everything the City proposes can be done using tax money already available. 

Our tax burden goes up every year, giving the City more money to spend.  In December 2017, the City Council increased 2-year spending by over $31 million without adding new taxes.  New money came from all the usual places: sales taxes, cable and internet service taxes, property taxes, taxes on businesses, and taxes on construction.

We all know the City’s tax income will increase every year and taxes and fees from new offices, stores, and apartments at Kirkland Urban and Totem Lake will add even more.

Instead of a new tax that increases our burden, the City should change spending to match today’s priorities.  The current 2-year budget is an enormous ¾ billion dollars – about $8,000 each for our community of 90,000 people.  The City estimates the tax will add $3.6 million over two years – only 0.48% of the budget and 1/10 of the “found money” for 2017-2018.

Everyone is hurt by tolls, higher car tabs, and tax increases, especially those with less.

There’s enough money to pay for critical new services – this new tax just isn’t needed.  Vote “No”.

Let’s not be penny-wise and pound-foolish!

The opponents agree there is a need for critical new services. The city doesn’t have the funds to provide increased public safety without cutting other needed services. Prudence demands we pass what is one of the smallest tax increases ever. One penny on a $10 purchase is the wisest investment you can make to improve safety in our streets and schools. Vote Yes on Proposition 1.

Submitted by: Santos Contreras, David Greschler, Heather McKnight, www.saferkirkland.org

"For just one penny”, say those who have plenty.

For our neighbors who struggle to pay for life’s essentials, the pennies Kirkland takes away for taxes add up and the struggle becomes a painful battle.

Kirkland can provide new public safety services without taking more money away from us by raising taxes.  City Council just has to change how they spend our money so spending matches our priorities.

This tax increase is unnecessary. Vote No!

Submitted by: Michelle Darnell, Ken MacKenzie, NoTaxIncreaseKirkland@gmail.com

Complete text of measure

Simple majority (RCW 82.14.450(2))

For questions about this measure, contact: Kevin Raymond, City Attorney, 425-587-3031, KRaymond@KirklandWA.gov