EDMONDS — Voters here face three tax-levy measures on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
The three measures would help the city collect taxes beyond the voter-approved, state 1 percent limit on property-tax increases.
One levy would maintain city safety, parks and other services. The second would pay for street repaving. The third would provide money for building maintenance and park improvements.
City Council President Strom Peterson said that he would have preferred a single levy, but the City Council decided to place three levies on the ballot — enabling voters to pick and choose what they wish to pay for.
Councilman Steve Bernheim said that he likes the pick-and-choose approach because voters will see the consequences of approving or rejecting each of the three measures.
Councilwoman Adrienne Fraley-Monillas said that all three levies are important to the city and have a better chance to pass individually than they would if they were bundled together.
Fraley-Monillas added that the three-year life of the levies helps their chances of passing and that three years gives the city time to learn from its strategic planning process and for the economy to recover.
Here is information on each proposed levy:
Proposition 1
The public-services levy would raise about $1 million in each of the next three years and increase the property tax bill on a $375,000 home by about $65 in 2012.
Proponents say that the city needs the money to maintain adequate police and fire protection, keep parks safe and clean, and support other day-to-day operations of city government.
Opponents say that it raises taxes without solving either the city’s short-term needs or its long-term financial problems.
Peterson said the levy is a not intended to solve long-term problems but will carry the city over while the mayor and council make long-term adjustments.
Bernheim said that opponents who say that the levy won’t do enough aren’t being realistic about what voters will support.
Proposition 2
The street-maintenance levy would raise $1 million over the levy lid for each of the next three years for street repairs. Like Proposition 1, it would increase the tax bill on a $375,000 home by about $65 in 2012.
Proponents say that the $1 million for each of the next three years would put street repairs on a proper schedule.
Proposition 3
The building maintenance and park improvements levy would raise about $500,000 over the levy lid for each of the three years. It would increase taxes on a $375,000 home by about $32 in 2012.
Proponents say the city needs the money for necessary maintenance and repairs on the Edmonds Senior Center, parks and playgrounds, the Anderson Center, City Hall, a fire station, the Meadowdale Clubhouse and other city facilities.
Opponents say it won’t solve long-term budget problems and that the proposition isn’t specific about how the money will be spent.
Peterson said that he isn’t confident that the levies will pass and expressed fear that the levies will compete with each other for votes.
Bernheim said he expects voters to be inclined to support the levies once they read about them in the voter pamphlet “because local taxes haven’t kept pace with inflation and because it’s a citizen’s responsibility to pay taxes to maintain local public facilities and the government functions we want.”
Bernheim said that no organized groups are campaigning for or against any of the levies, but he expects local candidates will.
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