STANWOOD — A proposal that would increase taxes to pay for police, fire and medical services is coming to voters on the November ballot.
The city is seeking a six-year “levy lid lift” to help with the rising cost of fire and police contracts. City of Stanwood Proposition No. 1 would increase annual property taxes by up to 15.5 cents per $1,000 assessed value, or about $46.50 on a $300,000 home.
That jump may be smaller some years if the city runs up against state caps on local taxes. Currently, the city tax rate is $3.05 per $1,000 assessed value, roughly $915 on a $300,000 home.
The City Council voted July 23 to put the measure on the ballot, citing a need for more revenue to cover public safety costs. Stanwood contracts with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office for police and the North County Regional Fire Authority for fire and emergency medical services.
Nearly 60 percent of Stanwood’s $5.8 million general fund goes toward police, fire and courts, according to city documents.
State law limits to 1 percent a year the amount cities such as Stanwood can up taxes without voter approval. City officials are essentially asking voters to suspend that 1 percent mandate for the next six years.
It would take more than 50 percent of voters to approve the change. Higher tax rates would take affect in 2016.
The city’s contract with the sheriff’s office has a built-in annual increase of about $62,000 and Stanwood paid $1.57 million this year. The fire authority charges $1.28 million this year and next but could rise by as much as $200,000 per year starting in 2017, depending on the city’s assessed value and the fire authority’s levy rate.
Stanwood collects about $2.1 million per year in taxes and could raise $21,000 under the 1 percent levy lid. City officials expect the tax increase would bring in up to $171,000 more.
City Council members considered annexing into the fire district rather than continuing the contract for services, but that would cut the city’s taxing limit nearly in half to account for the new fire authority tax that would come with annexation, City Administrator Deborah Knight said. The council worried it would take money away from other public services.
The North County Regional Fire Authority also has a tax measure on the ballot. It is asking voters to make a levy for emergency medical services permanent. If approved, that rate would stay the same as taxpayers are paying this year, which is 50 cents per $1,000 assessed value or about $150 on a $300,000 home.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com
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