Living in a secure community is essential. A safe neighborhood protects you and your family and enhances the value of your property. By voting yes on the Public Safety Levy Lid Lift, you support a safer, more vibrant future for Des Moines.

Facing significant fiscal pressures and rising public safety demands, Des Moines must ensure ongoing funding for essential services. The Public Safety Levy Lid Lift meets this need by funding four additional police officers and preventing cuts to current public safety personnel. This measure enhances response efficiency and bolsters police presence, increasing safety for you, your family, and your property.

Supporting this levy is a crucial step toward maintaining and enhancing community safety. For homeowners, the proposed tax increase for a $600,000 property is an additional $298 per year—about 82 cents per day. This modest daily cost is an investment in dedicated public safety funding, securing the long-term safety and desirability of Des Moines.

By voting yes, you directly invest in your safety and that of our community. Help strengthen our police force. Tax exemptions may be available for seniors, persons with disabilities, and disabled veterans.

Submitted by: Martha Hamilton, Bettina Carey, askbettina@gmail.com

This 57 percent local tax increase is really about the City's continuing fiscal mismanagement. Three years ago, the City Council knew funding the police with one-time-only money was wrong. Yet they persist in suspending the rule that prohibits it, demonstrating a clear disregard for sustainable fiscal practices.

If the City and Council truly prioritizes our security, they would stop inappropriately funding the police every few years. Instead, they use the police as a shield for their tax hike demands and threaten to decimate public safety and parks if we don't comply.

The City and Council needs to seriously consider other avenues and establish some priorities. Rather than resorting to a tax increase, it's about time they made some tough decisions, such as cutting unnecessary projects and reducing inflated executive salaries. The Council must spend our hard-earned money wisely and explore all possible solutions before burdening working families with more taxes.

Even more insidious is that even if we vote no, the Council has already decided to put this issue on the November ballot. How cynical and disrespectful. Vote no and send them a clear message: Budget more carefully. Just do your job!

Submitted by: Susan White

Let’s prioritize responsible budgeting and public safety in Des Moines. This one-time increase in support of public safety will cost well under $1 per day for most property owners. Like many other cities in our region, Des Moines faces the challenges of rising costs and crime rates.

Current revenues can’t keep up. When budgets get cut, public safety gets hit hard. Please ensure that our public safety stays well funded. Vote yes.

Submitted by: Martha Hamilton, Bettina Carey, askbettina@gmail.com

Our public safety depends on fiscal responsibility. Last fall the City Manager said we had plenty of money, so we could afford a $24,505 million loan. We have to pay that back in addition to funding the police.

A no vote this August will tell this council to first figure out what went wrong and develop a responsible budget. Only then can we have sustainable spending. Raising taxes should be the last resort.

Submitted by: Susan White

Download the full text of the resolution

Simple majority (RCW 84.55.050)

For questions about this measure, contact: Taria Keane, City Clerk, 206-870-8552, tkeane@desmoineswa.gov