Will Mukilteo be a ranked top 10 small town if Joe Marine is re-elected mayor? Not if Joe has his way. Money magazine writes that “Mukilteo also happens to be drop-dead gorgeous, with views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the Cascades. More reasons to love it: top-notch schools and low property taxes.”
Mukilteo is “drop-dead gorgeous” but will not be when Joe Marine and the city puts into action their annexation plans, which a huge majority of Mukilteo residents oppose. The “Gateway into Mukilteo” will consist of Honey’s Strip Club, Royal Casino, an adult book store, massage parlors, prostitution and a drug-related crime area. Residents have shelled out over $500,000 in economic and consultant fees on annexation. Now we will be paying attorney fees to defend a lawsuit on an issue that residents are adamantly against.
Mukilteo can raise property taxes legally as much as 7 percent without a public vote. These tax increases may be needed to overcome budget shortfalls. Mukilteo currently is running at a $2 million deficit. Even with a AAA bond rating that the current mayor loves to tout, to build the new community center will cost taxpayers approximately $1 million per year for the next 20 years. This also does not include an estimated $400,000 the city will have to subsidize to operate this facility each year.
For real “responsible fiscal direction,” vote Pat Smith for mayor and re-elect Kevin Stoltz for city council.
Christine Awad Schmalz
Mukilteo
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