HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-019 Providing for submission of proposition authorizing City to levy regular property taxes in excess of limitationsRESOLUTION 08-019
A RESOLUTION of the of the City Council of the City of
Port Townsend, Washington, relating to regular property taxes;
providing fox the submission to the qualified electors of the City at
a special election held in conjunction with the state primary
election on August 19, 2008, of a proposition authorizing the City
to levy regular property taxes in excess of the limitations of ch.
84.55 RCW; setting forth the text of the ballot proposition;
directing proper City officials to take necessary actions; and
providing for other properly related matters.
BE IT RESOLVED BY the City Council of City of Port Townsend, Washington, as
follows:
Section 1. Recitals. The City Council (the "City Council") of City of Port Townsend,
Washington (the "City"), hereby makes the following findings and determinations:
(a) RCW 84.55.050(1) provides for the levy of regular property taxes in an amount
exceeding the limitations specified in chapter 84.55 RCW if such increased levy is authorized by
a proposition approved by a majority of the voters at general election held within the taxing
district (a "levy lid lift").
(b) The City Council has determined that the revenues that will be available to the City in
calendar year 2009 will be insufficient to provide for basic library services, and that additional
funds for this purpose should be phased in over time.
(c) The City Council has determined that it is essential and necessary for the public
health, safety and welfare that additional funds be found to support a continuation of the current
level library services and future enhancements to library services, and has therefore determined
that it is in the interests of the City and its resident to submit this levy lid lift proposition to the
voters for their approval or rejection.
Section 2. Puryose and Calling? of Election. The City Council finds that it is in the best
interests of the City to submit to the qualified voters of the City, at a special election held in
conjunction with the state primary election on August 19, 2008, a proposition authorizing the
City to increase its regular property tax levy fox collection in 2009 by an amount greater than
otherwise permitted under chapter 84.55 RCW for the purpose of funding library services,
including operation, maintenance and capital purposes. If this proposition is approved, the City
Council will be authorized to adopt, in accordance with its regular budget process, an increased
regular property tax as described in Section 3.
Section 3. Descrintion of Lid Lift. To fulfill the purpose identified in Section 2 of this
resolution, the City Council seeks voter approval under RCW 84.55.050(1) for a levy lid lift, as
follows:
Resoluaion U8-019
(a) The proposed increase is estimated to result in a maximum increase in the regular
property tax rate over the 2008 levy rate of $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed value, for a total
permissible levy rate of $2.31 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2009. However, the
City Council commits itself to levy only $1.94 per $1,000 assessed value in 2009 and to bank the
remaining authorization for use in future years to fund parks, community services, and capital
facilities, such that the levy increase will be phased in over three years.
(b) The maximum dollar amount authorized under this ballot proposition for levy in
2009 shall be used for the purpose of computing the limitations for subsequent levies provided
for under ch. 84.55 RCW. Amounts collected due to this authorization shall be limited to librazy
purposes.
(c) The City Council commits itself after approval of the levy to use the general fund
monies that had supported the library for the following purposes: parks, community services;
and capital facilities.
Section 4. Ballot Pronosition. The Auditor of Jefferson County, Washington (the
"Auditor"), as ex o~cio supervisor of elections, is hereby requested to call and conduct a special
election in the City, in the manner provided by law, to be held on the date identified in Section 2,
for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the City, a proposition in substantially the
following form:
City of Port Townsend, Washington
Proposition 1
Levy Lid Lift for Support of Library
The City Council has adopted Resolution 08-019 concerning the
City's regular property tax levy.
If approved, this proposition would fund operations and
maintenance of the Port Townsend library. It authorizes a
maximum 2009 regulaz property tax rate increase of $0.75 per
$1,000 assessed value, for a total authorized levy rate of $2.31 per
$1,000. The City Council has pledged to phase-in the increase
over three years. The 20091evy authorization will be used to
calculate subsequent levy limits, with the resulting increase to be
applied solely to library purposes.
Should this proposition be: -Approved? Rejected?
Section 5. Notices Relating to Ballot Proposition. For purposes of receiving notice of
the exact language of the ballot proposition required by RCW 29A.36.08Q the City Council
hereby designates: (a) John Watts, City Attorney, phone: 360.385-5047, email:
jwatts@cityofpt.us; and (b) special counsel to the City, Foster Pepper PLLC (Alice Ostdiek,
phone: 206.447-4663, ostda@foster.com) as the individuals to whom such notice should be
provided.
Resolution 08-019
Section 6. Authorization to Deliver Resolution and Perform Other Necessarv Duties.
The City Clerk (or his/her designee) is authorized and directed, no later than May 27, 2008, to
certify a copy of this resolution to the Auditor and to perform such other duties as are necessary
or required by law to the end that the proposition described herein should appear on the ballot at
the special election identified in Section 2 of this resolution.
Section 7. Severability. If any provision of this resolution shall be declared by any court
of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, then such provision shall be null and void and shall be
separable from the remaining provisions and shall in no way affect the validity of the other
provisions, or of the levy or collection of the taxes authorized herein.
Section 8. Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect and be in force immediately
after its passage.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, at a regular
meeting thereof, this nineteenth day of May 2008.
`Michelle Sandoval, Mayor
Attest:
~~~s~LtiL,C~L1/
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
City Attorney
Resolution 08-019