Levy renewal a decrease in taxes

Published 11:07 am Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Edmonds School District intends to request renewal of their 2004 Technology/Capital Levy by placing it on the ballot for May 20. The renewal is projected to be at 28 cents per $1,000 of property assessment. The expiring levy passed by voters in 2004 is currently collecting 52 cents per $1,000.

Property owners are well aware that property values have increased markedly since 2004, and those values along with the tax rates will determine the full affect of the new levy.

County assessor records indicate that the average price of an Edmonds home was $278,000 in 2004; in 2007, it is $406,000. Therefore the average levy in 2004 was $144.56; the new levy would be $113.68 — a decrease of 21 percent for the average home.

I urge all voters to vote for passage of this new levy. It is a rare occasion when you have the opportunity to vote in support of a measure that will help fund such critical capital facilities projects as safety and emergency preparedness, energy efficiency, systems upgrades, outdoor facilities, etc., and at the same time receive a tax decrease.

Ron Wambolt

Edmonds City Councilman