By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer
(NOTE: This is the fourth installment of information from the King County primary-election voters’ pamphlet.)
King County voters’ pamphlets for the August primary election are in the mail, but the information also is available on line at the King County elections web site (www.kingcounty.gov/elections.aspx) under “Local voters’ pamphlet.”
Here’s the introductory voters-pamphlet information for Lake Forest Park Proposition 1 (For "Pro" and "Con" statements and the complete text of the resolution, see the web site or the printed pamphlet.):
City of Lake Forest Park Proposition No. 1
Levy for Retention of Basic Public Safety and Other Services
Simple Majority to pass (RCW 84.55.050)
The City Council of the City of Lake Forest Park, adopted Resolution No. 1202 concerning voter approval of its regular property tax levy.
To retain basic public safety, parks, community and other governmental services, this proposition would (1) increase the regular property tax levy above the limit factor, to a rate of $1.85 per $1,000 assessed value for collection in 2011; (2) increase the 2012-2016 levy amounts by the CPI inflation rate; and (3) authorize use of the 2016 levy amount as the base for computing levies in succeeding years; all as set forth in Resolution No. 1202.
Should this proposition be approved?
YES
NO
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The City of Lake Forest Park relies on property taxes to provide basic governmental services such as police and parks. The City of Lake Forest Park is asking voters to decide whether to authorize an increase in property taxes to a levy rate of $1.85 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This increase would apply only to the Lake Forest Park portion of your property tax bill, not your entire tax bill.
The levy’s purpose is to retain existing levels of the City’s public safety, parks, community and other services. The City has already reduced its 2009-10 budget by $931,000 and laid off 8% of its employees, due to structural budgetary problems caused by I-695 and I-747 and exacerbated by the current economy. The City is facing a projected budget deficit of $692,000 for the year 2011.
If approved, this levy would fill the budget gap projected for 2011, and allow the City to avoid the need for additional public safety, parks, community and other governmental service reductions; staff layoffs; or utility tax or rate hikes. The increase would amount to about $138 per year or $11.50 per month for the first year for an average Lake Forest Park home. The levy would run for six years, and would increase annually by inflation (measured by the Consumer Price Index) for the years 2012-2016. The 2016 property tax amount would be used as a base for calculating future years’ property taxes, which would be subject to existing statutory limits.
Statements for and against the measures and Rebuttals of those statements -- Available at the County elections web site or in the printed voters' pamphlet;
Complete Text of Resolution – Voters can download it from the County elections web site. Under “Local voters’ pamphlet,” click on “Measures on the Ballot,” then “City of Lake Forest Park.” Below the statements for and against the measure, is a place to download the complete text.
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