Mukilteo vote involves parks and roads

Published 11:04 pm Wednesday, August 15, 2007

MUKILTEO – Millions of dollars for parks and roads projects in Mukilteo are at stake during Tuesday’s primary election.

If voters approve a pair of property tax increases, the City Council says it would spend more than $23 million on projects such as a new trail in Japanese Gulch, a new road connecting Beverly Park Road and Mukilteo Speedway and a trail linking Harbour Heights to several acres of city-owned beachfront.

The projects are expected to be funded during the next 10 to 13 years.

Proposition 1 would generate about $1 million annually. The tax increase would not expire.

The first $12.8 million raised could be spent on several projects, which include building new sidewalks, improving safety and congestion at busy intersections, acquiring land for sports fields and building new trails and pedestrian overpasses.

The other tax measure, Proposition 2, would generate about $14 million and expire after nine years.

Combined, the levies would cost owners of $350,000 homes about $240 per year for nine years. After Proposition 2 expires, the remaining tax would be about $101 per year for owners of $350,000 homes.

“I think it’s clear that we need improvements in Mukilteo,” City Councilman Marko Liias said. “As I’ve talked to residents, everyone recognizes that there are needs in Mukilteo.”

If voters approve Proposition 2, the city plans to borrow about $10.8 million for beautifying the Rosehill Community Center grounds and extending Harbour Reach from Mukilteo Speedway to Beverly Park Road. The city would use Proposition 2 revenue to repay the debt from the projects.

“If in fact we want the projects built, it’s cheaper to build them now,” Mayor Joe Marine said. “It’s cheaper to borrow the money than to build them later with the costs of construction increasing.”