Ordinance 3848AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON, RELATING TO REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES,
PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF
THE CITY AT THE'NOVEMBER 8, 2011 GENERAL ELECTION OF A
PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN THE REGULAR
PROPERTY TAX LEVY IN EXCESS OF THE INCREASEOTHERWISE
ALLOWED BY CHAPTER-84.55 RCW TO HELP MAINTAIN CURRENT
LEVELS OF SERVICE IN PUBLIC SAFETY,PARKS, AND OTHER CITY
SERVICES; SETTING FORTH THE BALLOT TITLE THEREFORE
REQUESTING THAT THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY AUDITOR PLACE THE
PROPOSITION ON THE NOVEMBER 8, 2011 BALLOT, AND FIXING THE
TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE.
WHEREAS, RCW 84.55.050 provides for the levy of regular property taxes in an amount exceeding
the limitations specified in chapter 84.55 RCW if such increased levy is authorized by a ballot
proposition approved by a majority of the voters at an election held within the taxing district (a "levy
lid lift"); and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the City and its
residents to subn1it a levy lid lift proposition under RCW 84.55.050(1) to the voters for their
approval or rejection; and
WHEREAS, accordin'to the Snohomish County Assessor's Annual Report for 2011 Taxes, the
City of Edmonds regular property tax levy for 2011 amounted to $9,499,558.01; and
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds 2011 regular property tax levy rate per $1,000 of assessed
valuation was 1.47663233; and
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds also has an additional EMS levy rate that is fixed at 0.5"per
$1,000 of assessed valuation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds also has an additional2011 levy rate 0.14572144 per $1,000 of
assessed valuation for G.O. bonds related to public safety; and
WHEREAS, in 2011 these three rates combined to create a total City of Edmonds levy rate of
2.12235377 per $1,000 of assessed valuation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds assessed valuation for 2011 was 6,433,258,853; and
WHEREAS, the Snohomish County Assessor's Office estimates that the City's 2012 assessed value
will be approximately $5,794,962,200; and
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds can increase its regular property tax levy by 1%each year without
voter approval; and
WHEREAS, in 2012 the City of Edmonds could levy regular property taxes (which do not include
the EMS levy and the GO bond levy) of approximately$9,594,553'.59 without voter approval and
without including any increased revenue associated with new construction; and
WHEREAS, without any additional voter authorization, the City of Edmonds regular property tax
levy rate for 2012 would be approximately 1.655671471 per $1,000 in assessed valuation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined to ask the voters whether they are willing to fund an
additional One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) to help maintain current levels of service in public
safety, parks, and other city services through a levy lidliftfor each of the years 2012, 2013, and 2014;
now therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ED ONDS, WASHINGTON, ISO ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS.
Section 1. Lew Lid Lift Election Called For. Pursuant to RCW 84.55.050, the Edmonds City
Council hereby calls for submission of a proposition to the qualified electors of the City asking
whether the City shall levy regular property taxes in excess of the limitation established in RCW
84.55.010. The Snohomish County Auditor; as ex offi(io supervisor of elections in Snohomish
County, is hereby requested to call and conduct the election referenced herein in the City of
Edmonds on November 8, 2011. The proposition to be submitted to the qualified voters of the
City for their approval or rejection is to authorize increasing the City's regular property tax levy by
0.17256368 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, to a total regular (not including EMS or GO bond)'
property tax levy rate of 1.82823515 per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation (if only this
proposition passes), for collection beginning in 2012. If this proposition is approved, the City
Council will be authorized to adopt; in accordance with its regular budget process; an increased
regular property tax as described herein.
Section 2. Purpose of Levy and Description of Ballot Proposition. For the purposes identified
below, the City Council seeks voter approval under RCW 84,55.050 for a levy lid lift, as'follows:
(a) Pur ose. The amounts collected pursuant to the increase authorized by the Proposition may
be used to help maintain current levels of service in public safety, parks, and other city
services.
(b) Increase Authorized Beginning in 2012. The Proposition authorizes a maxunum increase in
the City's total levy rate to the maximum rate otherwise allowed for collection 'in 2012 under
chapter 84.55 RCW plus not to exceed 0,17256368 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total
regular property tax rate produced is estimated to be approximately 1.82823515 per $1,000
of assessed value (if only this proposition passes), based on estimated 2012 assessed values.
(c) Increase Authorized for Future Years through 2014. Pursuant to RCW 84.55:050(4), the
dollar amount of the maximum authorized levy under chapter 84.55 RCW for collection in
2012 shallbe • for the purpose of •limitationsor •sequent evies
1 • 2014 provided • •-r chapter 84and such fundsbe limited to
the purposes described ■•above.
Section 3. Ballot Proposition. The City Clerk is here by authorized and directed, not later than
August 16, 2011, to certify a copy of this ordinance and a proposition to the Auditor of Snohomish
County, as ex officio Supervisor of Elections in_Snohomish County Washington, in substantially the
following form:
.4 V * •
Levv to Heln Maintain Current Levels of r Other Citv Services
The Edmonds City Council has passed Ordinance No� 3848 to place before the
voter rov
,,=ti�7 taxes to helv
I -, maintain current levels of service in yublic safet�i,,.�,,-
and other city services. This proposition would authorize an increase in the regular
property •r collection in 21 of ► per i lit of •
valuation, for a total -regular property tax rate (if only this proposition passes) of
1.82823515 per n i11 of • valuation. Use of •• r• 0.17256368 per
000 of assessed valuation would-r maintain current levelsof public
safety, parks, and other city servicesThe 2012 levy amount would become the basis
upon which levyicreases would be • r • for 2013and 2014. Should this
proposition be approved?
S NO
Section 4. Changes. The Mayor and City Attorney are authorized to make such minor adjustments
to the wording of such proposition as maybe recommended by the Snohomish County Auditor, as
long as the intent of the proposition remains clear and consistent with the intent of this Ordinance
as approved by the City Council,
Section 5.Notices Relating to Ballot Proposition. For purposes of receiving notice of the exact
language of the ballot proposition requited by RCW 29A.36.080, the City Council hereby designates
the City Clerk.
Section 6. Severabili1y.r above - • •specific
findings by •uncil in support of passage of • • provision of
Section 7. Effective Date. Jhis ordinance shall, take effect and be iii force five days after publication
as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Edinondsate'
a
regular open public meeting thereof tIns 2nd day of,August, 2011,
CITY OF t--.DMONDS
Mayor Mike Cooper
:its, Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City At )rnev
��-8302-234 3 48;45
F11.ED WITI-I THE CITY CLERK: 07-29-2011
PASSED BY TH17CrrY COUNCIL: 08-02-2011
PUBLISHED: 08-07-2011
El"FEC"I'lVE DATE: 08-12-2011
ORDWANCE NO. 3848
Without voter approval, the City of Edmonds can increase the amount of regular
property taxes it collects by only 1% (approximately) each year. This limit is called
the "levy lid." Under this limit, in 2012, Edmonds can collect regular property
taxes at a rate of approximately $1.66 per $1,000 of assessed valuation without
voter approval.
With voter approval, this proposition would authorize the City of Edmonds to
collect approximately $1,000,000 over the levy lid for each of three years (2012
2014). This additional revenue would be used to help maintain current levels of
service in public safety, parks, and other city services. If only this proposition
passes (Propositions 2 and 3 would increase the levy lid for other purposes), the
City of Edmonds will be allowed to increase the regular property tax rate in 2012
by approximately 17 cents per $1,000'of assessed valuation. For example, this
proposition would increase the regular property tax bill on a $375,000 home by
approximately $65 in 2012.
For regular property taxes collected after 2014, the maximum tax levy would be
determined as if this proposition had not been approved.
On the 2hd day of August, 2011, the City Council of the City of Edmonds, passed Ordinance No. 3848. A
summary of the contentof . •. ordinance, consisting of .. title, provides as f•l'. •
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS,
WASHINGTON,RELATING TO REGULAR ■i TAXES;PROVIDING •' THE
SUBMISSION• THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF •
GENERAL2011 • OF i • AUTHORIZING
THE REGULAR PROPERTYOF OTHERWISE
ALLOWED BY CHAPTER 84.55 RCW TO HELP MAINTAINCURRENT
SERVICE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, +. •FORTH
AUDITORTHE BALLOT TITLE THEREFORE; REQUESTING THAT THE SNOHOMISH COUNTY
+CE THE PROPOSITION ON • :ER 8, 2011 BALLOT; AND
FIXING THE TIME WHEN THE SAME SHALL BECOME
• • ir4wimil7or-im 't it "^•
"CITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
COUNTY OF SNOHOMISH S.S.
The undersigned, being first duly sworn on oath deposes and says that she is Principal Clerk of
THE HERALD a daily newspaper printed and published in the City of Everett, County of
Snohomish, and State of Washington; that said newspaper is a newspaper of general
circulation in said County and State; that said newspaper has been approved as a legal
newspaper by order of the Superior Courtof Snohomish County and that the notice
Summary of Ordinance arts 3R4g
a printed copy of which is hereunto attached, was published in said newspaper prosper and not in
supplement form, in the regular and entire edition of said paper on the following days and
tunes, namely:
August 07, 2011
and that said newspaper was regularly distributed to its subscribers during all of said period;
I-rT eapitI
Account Name: Gty of Edmonds Account Number. 101416: Order Number: 000178625E