MUKILTEO – 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.
If voters in Mukilteo approve a pair of property tax increases in August, the City Council says it would spend more than $23 million of the new tax dollars to fund those projects and others during the next 10 to 12 years.The city has scheduled an informational meeting about the ballot measures at 7 p.m. July 23 at City Hall. Another meeting is being planned for early August, City Council President Jennifer Gregerson said. The election is scheduled for Aug. 21.The tax measures – called Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 – would generate millions of dollars for roads and parks projects.
Proposition 1 would generate about $1 million annually. The tax increase would not expire.
The other tax measure, Proposition 2, would generate about $14 million and expire after nine years.
The City Council had already decided how it would spend the money from Proposition 2. If voters approve the measure, the city plans to borrow about $10.5 million for beautifying the Rosehill Community Center grounds and extending Harbour Reach from Mukilteo Speedway to Beverly Park Road. The city would use the Proposition 2 revenue to repay the debt from the projects.
Until last week, the city hadn’t specifically said which projects would receive funding from Proposition 1.
“We felt we’ve had a good list of projects all along, and by clearly identifying the priority projects, we’ve made a promise to the citizens about what we would fund in the beginning in the first phase,” Gregerson said.
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.By approving Proposition 1, voters would ensure there would always be roads and parks funding available in the city’s budget, City Councilman Marko Liias said.
“The strength of Proposition 1 is that it provides ongoing dollars,” Liias said. “This would be the first set of projects over the next 10 to 12 years. As we go along, the council can choose other projects from other priorities as they come up.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
Mukilteo levies
Proposition 1 would generate about $12.8 million for several projects during the next 10 to 12 years. The list of projects that would be funded includes:
* $1.5 million to improve Fifth Street through Old Town Mukilteo. The types of improvements have not been determined.
* $3 million for new sidewalks on Harbour Pointe Boulevard, 84th Street SW, 88th Street SW and 76th Street SW.
* $3 million for making improvements, such as adding turn lanes, at Mukilteo Speedway’s intersections with 76th Street SW, 88th Street SW and Goat Trail.
* $1.5 million to create beach access in Old Town by building a pedestrian bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway railroad tracks where the Sounder station is being built.
* $500,000 for building or acquiring sports fields in the city.
* $2.2 million for two new trails. One would be built in Japanese Gulch to connect Fifth Street to Mukilteo Lane, and the other would connect Harbour Heights to about 60 acres of city-owned tideland.
* $100,000 to beautify a city-owned lot on the north side of the new city hall site, at the intersection of Harbour Pointe Boulevard and Cyrus Way.
Proposition 2 would generate about $14 million over nine years for beautifying the Rosehill Community Center grounds and extending Harbour Reach to connect Mukilteo Speedway and Beverly Park Road.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
