"No LFP Levy Lid Lift" campaign

By Diane Hettrick

A committee has been formed in opposition to the Lake Forest Park Levy Lid Lift proposition. Headed by former council members Stephen Plusch, Carolyn Arminini, and Mary Jane Goss, the campaign has the support of State Sen. Darlene Fairley, current council member John Wright, Water Commissioner Bill Currie, and former LFP council members Ned Lawson, Donovan Tracy, Henry J. Reed, and Alan Kiest.

In a fund-raising letter now going out to voters, the No LFP Levy Lid Lift committee says that the resolution passed by the city council is a "spend more" proposition because of the second part of the council resolution: "...secondarily, to replenish the City's "rainy day" reserve fund and/or to restore positions and services previously eliminated."

The "No" committee says that the tax increase would raise the City's property tax rate 38.6% in the first year with taxes then automatically escalating each year for an additional 5 years. The property tax level at the end of the 5 years becomes the new base; it does not go back to what it was in 2010.

The committee contends that The City needs to focus on providing core services efficiently without increasing taxes.