Copyright Everett Herald
EVERETT — A long-awaited Edmonds ballot measure will determine the city’s next steps in addressing its budget crisis. Proponents say the property tax levy lid lift — Proposition 1 on the Nov. 4 ballot — is necessary to retain essential city services and move the city forward from its $13 million budget deficit. Opponents are concerned that rising property taxes will become too high for the city’s vulnerable residents. The proposed levy is a permanent, multi-year levy lid lift. Per state law, cities can only increase property taxes by 1% or less each year, unless voters approve a higher increase. A multi-year lid lift would allow the council to exceed the 1% cap for up to six years, or 2031. At the end of the six years, the levy could amount to about $17 million or $74 per month for the median household, council President Neil Tibbott said at a meeting in June. A permanent lid lift means that after six years, the levy would continue to increase by 1% or less based on the levy amount in 2031. This is different than a temporary lid lift, which would calculate increases after 2031 based on the 2025 amount. Edmonds voters have not approved a levy lid lift since 2001. The last levy lid lift put to voters was in 2011 for a public safety levy, which failed with 42% of the vote. In July, the City Council voted to place the measure on the ballot by a vote of 5-2. Council members Will Chen and Michelle Dotsch voted against the resolution. “I find that the amount does not have the proper metrics associated with it to show the public exactly where that money is going,” Dotsch said at the time. “I think with those on fixed incomes and those that are already receiving large tax increases that $14.5 million — beyond what the budget originally had as $6 million — is not appropriate at this time.” When the city originally passed its 2025-26 budget, it included a $6 million property tax levy lid. In June, Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen proposed a $19 million levy to the council, using recommendations from city staff and community members. The recommendations ranged from $15 million to $22 million. Rosen said the original $6 million wouldn’t result in an improvement of city services. After deliberation, the council landed on $14.5 million, with a commitment to find $5 million in additional revenue. In Edmonds, a 1% property tax increase amounts to about $107,000 in revenue, Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen said at his mid-biennium budget address last month. Rosen has endorsed Yes For Edmonds — the community-led campaign in favor of the levy — in his personal capacity. “That’s just a setup for a slow death for any city, is that there’s just no way that revenue can keep up with expenses,” Rosen said in a Sept. 19 interview. “That’s a big handicap.” Per the council’s resolution, the revenue from the levy will be limited to police, parks, planning, streets and safe sidewalks. In the mayor’s mid-biennium budget address, he said the proposed allocation of the revenue is 45% to police, 22% each to parks, 22% to streets and sidewalks, and 11% to planning. In June, the council unanimously approved another resolution that stated the potential impacts to city services if the levy doesn’t pass. The impacts include eliminating the city’s human services department and cultural service program and making significant cuts to police, parks and recreation, and community and economic development, among other cuts. The resolution also states the city would have to end recreation programming at the Frances Anderson Center. The detailed cuts total about $8.6 million, said council member Susan Paine. Paine has endorsed the levy in her personal capacity. “People will call it a scare tactic,” Paine said in a Sept. 11 interview. “I understand that. But if we don’t lay it out, I can’t be more sincere, this is what will happen. It’s not a tactic, it’s reality.” As part of the 2025-26 budget, the city eliminated 62 positions, either through layoffs or not hiring for vacant positions. Combined with hour reductions and furloughs, the staffing changes totaled $7.7 million. Some opponents of the levy argue that the city’s revenues have outpaced inflation and that the city has a spending problem. Proponents say the city runs a tight budget compared to similarly sized cities. In April, Edmonds voters approved annexation into South County Fire, which will raise property taxes by about $65 per month for the median homeowner starting in January. As of 2023, the median home value in Edmonds was $840,200, according to Census data. If Prop. 1 is approved, it will add another $65 per month increase. In total, property taxes would increase by $130 per month or $1,560 per year for the median homeowner. “This levy lid lift is at the wrong time,” said Theresa Hollis, officer for Keep Edmonds Affordable, a political action committee campaigning against Prop. 1. “We are squeezed. Groceries have been going up for years. Washington state has a higher tax on a gallon of gas. Federal government tariffs are getting really big. We are seeing higher prices on what we buy at Target, what we buy at Amazon, what we buy at Fred Meyer from the government tariffs, they’re being passed on.” In Snohomish County, people ages 61 and older who have a household income of $75,000 or less per year are eligible for property tax exemptions. People who are unable to work because of a disability are also eligible for exemptions. Those with a combined household income between $75,000 and $79,578 per year are eligible for deferrals. More information about property tax relief programs is available on the county assessor’s website. Hollis said she’s seen firsthand how property taxes can affect seniors who have an income just above the county’s exemption threshold. Hollis founded a volunteer program through the Edmonds Waterfront Center that helps eligible seniors apply for exemptions. “This is not about fighting the city,” Hollis said. “This is not about saying the mayor is not up to par. This is not about being anti-tax. This is about affordability.” Proponents say Prop. 1 is a worthwhile investment to keep key city services. “When we think about the future of our city and what attracts a new generation of residents to a city, oftentimes it is parks and the services that come along with them,” said Adel Sefrioui, an officer for Yes For Edmonds. “A lot of the things that make Edmonds really special would go away.” In April, residents packed the Edmonds City Council chamber to speak out against proposed comprehensive plan amendments to sell Hummingbird Hill Park and the Frances Anderson Center. “We find ourselves in this position today where costs have gone up,” Sefrioui said. “Infrastructure has continued to deteriorate and has not been modernized. We’ve kicked the can down the road on deferred maintenance on some of our buildings … We have parts of our city where the residents there don’t have access to a park within a one mile radius. If we don’t have money to take care of basic services, there’s no way we’re putting money aside to build parks.” Council members Tibbott, Vivian Olson, Chris Eck and Jenna Nand have endorsed Yes For Edmonds in their personal capacities, among other elected officials. Yes For Edmonds also has endorsements from local philanthropist and travel writer Rick Steves and the Edmonds Police Officers Association. Keep Edmonds Affordable has endorsements from Dotsch in her personal capacity, former Edmonds City Council members Diane Buckshnis and Dave Teitzel, and Snohomish County Council member Nate Nehring, among other community members. The county began mailing ballots for the Nov. 4 election last week. County officials recommend returning ballots in a drop box or by mail at least one week before Election Day.
