King County Local Voters Pamphlet

Nov. 2, 2004 General and Special Elections

City of Duvall
Proposition No. 1

INCREASE IN REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY

In order to maintain Police and Parks services, shall the City of Duvall increase its property tax levy to $1.60 per thousand dollars of assessed value for collection in 2005, set the limit factor at 104% for each of the five succeeding years, and increase the levy each year thereafter as allowed by Chapter 84.55 RCW, and at no time shall the property tax rate exceed $1.60 per thousand dollars assessed value?

Yes
No

Explanatory Statement

The City of Duvall is projecting that ongoing revenues will fall short of ongoing expenses by an average of $452,000 in the years 2005 and 2006. In 2005, the shortfall is projected to be 13% of the General Fund operating budget.

If the City were to balance the budget by cutting expenses, significant cuts would need to occur, including closing some city parks and elimination of police department positions and other services. The City Council has decided to ask voters to increase the City's regular property tax levy to help maintain the most essential levels of service.

If approved, this proposition will authorize the City to levy regular real property taxes for the years 2005 - 2010 at a maximum rate of $1.60 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. This is the same levy rate that the City had in 2000. After 2010, the maximum increase of property tax collections in future years would be 1% per year, in accordance with state law.

The current levy rate is $1.12 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation as a result of the expiration of the Police Levy and due to new construction. Approval of the levy will renew the Police Levy of $130,000 that expired in 2003. If the levy is approved, the City property tax on a home valued at $300,000 would increase by $144 per year.

Statement for

Statement against

Property tax rates for the City of Duvall have steadily declined since 1998, causing less revenue for the City to operate and maintain a rapidly growing community. Population growth in Duvall will continue, but the police and park services that are essential to maintaining a high quality of life and sense of community within Duvall will be reduced unless the Police and Parks Community Levy is approved.

Approval of the Levy is necessary for the City to keep our existing park system open and available to the community. The minimum maintenance required for general upkeep of the parks includes safety inspections of the newly constructed equipment at Central Park and existing equipment at Taylor Park, Big Rock Ball Field, and general maintenance of all other parks.

Residents of Duvall in 1998 approved a Police Levy to fund the current level of staffing for our Police Department, but that levy expired last year! To maintain the current number of officers staffed by the Police Department, it is essential for our community to pass the Police and Parks Community Levy. Without the Levy, several officer positions will be eliminated causing increased police response time and fewer services to residents and businesses.

STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Leslie Frazier, Mardi Rezoski, Carolyn Butler

NO STATEMENT SUBMITTED.

(The public was notified for the need of a committee for and against Proposition #1 via website listing at www.cityofduvall.com, and at the City Council meeting during which the Ordinance was passed authorizing the levy on July 22nd, 2004. Citizens were also encouraged to make comments (both for and against) to city officials in the informational mailing "Citizen Information: Police and Parks Community Levy."
No committee came forward and no statement was submitted.)

Complete Text of Resolution

CITY OF DUVALL
WASHINGTON

ORDINANCE NO. 994

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DUVALL, WASHINGTON, PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE CITY AT THE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 2, 2004, A POLICE AND PARKS COMMUNITY LEVY ON THE PROPOSITION OF WHETHER THE CITY SHALL INCREASE ITS REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY TO THE RATE OF $1.60 PER $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE TO PROVIDE FOR POLICE AND PARKS OPERATIONS

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Duvall, Washington finds it in the public interest of the City to maintain the Police Department at the current funding level in order to maintain existing programs and staff levels; and

WHEREAS, the City Council finds it in the public interest of the City to maintain the Parks Department at the current funding level in order to keep parks open and maintain play equipment and fields; and

WHEREAS, in order to provide all or part of the funds necessary to accomplish such purposes, the City Council finds it necessary, proper and advisable that the City increase its property tax levy to the rate $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value; and

WHEREAS, the Police and Parks Levy is one part of a multi-part funding plan that will include budget cuts and the consideration of a Business and Occupation Tax; and

WHEREAS, the tax levy rate of $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value shall be in place for six years and subsequent years shall have a regular levy based on the voted levy amount; and

WHEREAS, by law, the proposition of whether the City may increase its property tax rate must be submitted to the registered voters of the City for their ratification or rejection;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUVALL, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Submission to Voters: The City Council finds that an urgent need exists for providing funding for the Police and Parks Departments necessitating the Police and Parks Community Levy. The Police and Parks Community Levy to increase the property tax levy to $1.60 per thousand dollars of assessed value shall be submitted to the registered voters of the City at the general election to be held on November 2, 2004.
The King County Manager of Records and Elections as ex officio supervisor of elections is hereby requested to submit to the registered voters of the City of Duvall the proposition set forth below. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to certify said proposition to the King County Manager of Records and Elections in substantially the following form, with such additions, deletions or modifications as may be required by the City Attorney:

THE CITY OF DUVALL, WASHINGTON
PROPOSITON NO. 1
INCREASE IN REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY

The City Clerk is hereby authorized to deliver a certified copy of this Ordinance to the King County Manager of Records and Elections.

Section 3. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this Ordinance be pre-empted by state or federal law or regulation, such decision or pre-emption shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances.

Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be published in the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five (5) days after the date of publication.

ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT A REGULAR MEETING THEREOF ON THE 22 DAY OF July, 2004.

CITY OF DUVALL

________________
Mayor Becky Nixon (signed)

Updated: Oct. 11, 2004

PAMPHLET INDEX

King County | News | Services | Comments | Search

Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.