Learn about LFP Prop 1 on Monday, August 2, 7-8 pm Commons stage

Lake Forest Park has put a measure on the primary ballot for a "levy lid lift," which is the legal terminology for a property tax increase.

City council approved the recommendation of the mayor and city staff to put the measure on the ballot for the citizens to approve. They say that LFP is run prudently and has already made cuts to essential services and outsourced other services to save money. With revenues dropping and forecasted to drop even further, and the rate of inflation outpacing the rate of revenue, they feel it is necessary to ask voters to increase the property tax income to the city beyond the 1% allowed by law in order to maintain the services that citizens want.

The NO campaign, which includes several former city council members, maintains 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 would become the new base and would not go back to what it was in 2010.

The NO committee contends that The City needs to focus on providing core services efficiently without increasing taxes.

Voters can hear the arguments for themselves on Monday, August 2, from 7-8 pm on the Third Place Commons state at the League of Women Voters Lake Forest Park branch voter forum on the LFP Prop 1 Levy Lid Lift.