Islanders value our safe community, abundant parks and high quality of life. However, our city faces a financial crisis that will reduce funding for police/fire services, school resource officers, school counseling, senior services, and parks programs and maintenance.

Since 2007 state law limits the annual growth of MI City revenue from your property taxes to 1%, unless voters choose otherwise. For more than 10 years, the City has lived with this limit by tightly managing expenses, driving efficiencies, and dipping into reserves.

A comprehensive study by a diverse citizens’ advisory group, an independent financial expert, and the City Council found that with regional inflation above 3% annually, and the need to balance the budget and maintain prudent reserves, the City can no longer avoid service cuts through efficiencies alone.

Proposition 1 preserves essential services and commits the City to further accountability and cost-reduction programs. It will cost the average home owner $1.02 a day ($374 a year) over the next six years.

Keep our island strong and vote yes for police, fire, kids and parks. For more information, see www.IslandersYes.com.

We love and value the quality of life on Mercer Island and want to preserve it. To do this, our city government needs an equal balance of efficient spending, accountability, and taxes.  But we’ve had an imbalance since 2011.  Our tax contributions continue to increase: “Other” city revenues and fees (60% of the budget) increased 7% annually, and property tax and new construction revenues (40% of the budget) increased 2.4% annually.  Spending is growing with no cost control: city spending has grown 38%, staffing has increased 12% (22 new employees) with only 4% population growth,  and the city hasn’t applied formal spending containment since 2005.

Should we support raising our city property taxes 45% over 6 years when our city council hasn’t even looked at cost efficiencies? Or should we get spending under control first?

Our most valued services are protected:  police and fire are not at risk, city council has voiced protection for school counselor funding, and we already have a park maintenance levy in place. Voting “yes” to lift the levy lid increases taxes 45% and creates zero incentive for a balanced budget.  We need accountability for our tax dollars.

Balance the budget without new taxes.  Vote no.

Just saying “no" is not a strategy for managing a city. The cost of services increases over time. After extensive study, no one — including the opposition – has identified cost savings without serious cuts. Our fire, police, counselors, senior services and parks are Only protected with a Yes vote. $1.02 per day will save these valuable services. Prop 1 ensures accountability, financial sustainability, and preserves the quality of life we value. Vote Yes for Islanders.

Submitted by: Alan Merkle, Leslie Meagley, John Stewart, www.IslandersYes.com

The budget can be balanced without additional taxes and without impacting services.  Mercer Island doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.  With over $40M in reserves, our city budget is strong, but the Council hasn’t prioritized efficiency with your money.

Proposition 1 doesn’t address the core issue of spending, it asks Islanders to contribute more taxes so the city doesn’t have to live within a budget. A levy is not needed.

Submitted by: Lisa Anderl, Heather Cartwright, Mike Cero, www.miforss.com

Complete text of measure

Simple majority (RCW 84.55.050)

For questions about this measure, contact: Chip Corder, Finance Director, 206-275-7780, chip.corder@mercergov.org