HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 4443
ORDINANCE NO. 4443
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING THE UTILITY TAX RATES IN ECC 3.20.050, AMENDING
THE SUNSET PROVISION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4415, AND
PROVIDING FOR ONGOING REVIEW
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds faces structural fiscal challenges that require a
comprehensive, community-informed approach to achieve long-term fiscal sustainability; and
WHEREAS, at a February 6, 2026 Council retreat, the Mayor, City Council, and City
Directors identified financial stability and economic development as key priorities and committed
to adhering to Government Finance Officers Association budget planning principles; and
WHEREAS, the City has engaged Baker Tilly Advisory Group to conduct a three-phase fiscal
sustainability engagement, including developing a 10-year long-range financial forecast covering
the General, Capital Improvement, and Enterprise funds; identifying and recommending budget
strategies across expenditure controls, service delivery alternatives, revenue enhancements, and
service reductions; and facilitating a community-based Fiscal Sustainability Task Force to develop
consensus recommendations for the City Council; and
WHEREAS, on July 14, 2026, the City Council adopted the Fiscal Sustainability Task Force
Charter and Workplan, and the Task Force is anticipated to convene in Fall 2026 and complete
its work over a period of approximately nine months; and
WHEREAS, the utility tax rates for water, sewer, and stormwater services are currently
set at 20 percent under ECC 3.20.050, as amended by Ordinance No. 4415, and the City Council
has determined that those rates should continue at 20 percent while the fiscal sustainability
analysis and community engagement process are completed. The utility tax rate of 20% will
expire on December 31st, 2028; and
WHEREAS, the City Council intends to evaluate and, in its discretion, adjust the utility tax
rates established by this ordinance in light of the findings and recommendations of the Fiscal
Sustainability Task Force, the Baker Tilly Advisory Group engagement, and other new information
or changed circumstances that might be relevant to the City Council’s evaluation; NOW,
THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Extension of Sunset. Section 2 of Ordinance No. 4415, entitled "Sunset," is
hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 2. Sunset. This ordinance shall cease to have effect on June 30,
2027December 31, 2028 at which point the tax rates set forth herein shall return
to those that were in effect when this ordinance was adopted, absent subsequent
legislative action.
Section 2. Ongoing Review. The utility tax rates established and continued by this
ordinance shall remain in effect pending the City Council's review and consideration of the
findings and recommendations of the Fiscal Sustainability Task Force, the Baker Tilly Advisory
Group engagement, and other new information or changed circumstances that might be relevant
to the City Council’s evaluation. The City Council shall evaluate these rates in light of those
findings and recommendations and may, in its discretion, modify, continue, or repeal any of the
utility tax rates set forth in ECC 3.20.050 as it deems appropriate.
Section 3. Severability. If any section, subsection, clause, sentence, or phrase of this
ordinance should be held invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of
the remaining portions of this ordinance.
Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance is subject to referendum as set forth in RCW
35.21.706. Any person may file a referendum petition with the City Clerk within seven (7) days
after the passage of this ordinance. In the event that such a petition is filed, the City Clerk shall,
within ten (10) days, confer with the petitioner regarding the form and style of the petition,
secure an accurate, concise, and positive ballot title from the City Attorney, and assign an
identification number to the petition. The petitioner shall have thirty days in which to secure the
signatures of not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters of the city, as of the last
municipal general election, upon petition forms which contain the ballot title and the full text of
the measure to be referred. This ordinance shall take effect on October 1, 2026, unless a timely
referendum petition is filed, in which case the effective date shall be suspended until the
referendum petition is found to be insufficient or the ordinance is approved by the voters at an
election.
APPROVED:
MAYOR, MIKE ROSEN
Mike Rosen (Aug 4, 2026 11:35:04 PDT)
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
CITY CLERK, LUKE LONIE
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY:
BY
JEFF TARADAY
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: JULY 28, 2026
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: AUGUST 3, 2026
PUBLISHED: AUGUST 7, 2026
EFFECTIVE DATE: OCTOBER 1, 2026
ORDINANCE NO: 4443
Jeffrey Taraday (Aug 4, 2026 10:57:32 PDT)
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 4443
of the City of Edmonds, Washington
On the 3rd day of August, 2026, the City Council of the City of Edmonds, passed
Ordinance No. 4443. A summary of the content of said ordinance, consisting of the title, provides
as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING THE UTILITY TAX RATES IN ECC 3.20.050, AMENDING
THE SUNSET PROVISION OF ORDINANCE NO. 4415, AND
PROVIDING FOR ONGOING REVIEW
The full text of this Ordinance will be mailed upon request.
DATED this 4th day of August, 2026.
CITY CLERK, LUKE LONIE
Ordinance 4443
Final Audit Report 2026-08-04
Created:2026-08-04
By:Luke Lonie (Luke.Lonie@EdmondsWa.Gov)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAAtn-ivqPYLrF4WBpH_Y5TZXPMjkOBCqFc
"Ordinance 4443" History
Document created by Luke Lonie (Luke.Lonie@EdmondsWa.Gov)
2026-08-04 - 5:07:04 PM GMT
Document emailed to Jeffrey Taraday (jeff@lighthouselawgroup.com) for signature
2026-08-04 - 5:07:10 PM GMT
Email viewed by Jeffrey Taraday (jeff@lighthouselawgroup.com)
2026-08-04 - 5:56:52 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Jeffrey Taraday (jeff@lighthouselawgroup.com)
Signature Date: 2026-08-04 - 5:57:32 PM GMT - Time Source: server - Signature Appearance Selected: TYPE
Document emailed to Mike Rosen (Mike.Rosen@EdmondsWa.Gov) for signature
2026-08-04 - 5:57:34 PM GMT
Email viewed by Mike Rosen (Mike.Rosen@EdmondsWa.Gov)
2026-08-04 - 6:34:53 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Mike Rosen (Mike.Rosen@EdmondsWa.Gov)
Signature Date: 2026-08-04 - 6:35:04 PM GMT - Time Source: server - Signature Appearance Selected: DRAW
Document emailed to Luke Lonie (Luke.Lonie@EdmondsWa.Gov) for signature
2026-08-04 - 6:35:06 PM GMT
Email viewed by Luke Lonie (Luke.Lonie@EdmondsWa.Gov)
2026-08-04 - 6:35:59 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Luke Lonie (Luke.Lonie@EdmondsWa.Gov)
Signature Date: 2026-08-04 - 6:36:18 PM GMT - Time Source: server - Signature Appearance Selected: MOBILE_IMAGE
Agreement completed.
2026-08-04 - 6:36:18 PM GMT