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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-017 Property Tax LevyResolution 10-017 General Fund Levy Lid Ltft Page 1 of 4 RESOLUTION NO. 10-017 General Fund Levy Lid Lift A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON RELATING TO REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES; PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND AT A STATE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD WITHIN THE CITY ON AUGUST 17, 2010, OF A PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO LEVY ITS REGULAR PROPERTY TAX LEVY IN AN AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF THE LIMITATIONS OF CHAPTER 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 WHEREAS, the City's regular levy rate, as limited by chapter 84.55 RCW, for collection in 2010 is $1.88200 per $1,000 assessed valuation, and as a result of reassessment of properties located within the City, the levy rate is estimated by the County Assessor for 2011 at $2.04625 per $1,000 assesses valuation; WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is essential and necessary for the protection of the health and safety of the residents of the City that the fire protection, prevention and emergency medical services be provided within the City; WHEREAS, the City currently provides such services via contract with East Jefferson Fire and Rescue ("East Jefferson'), which contract previously required payments that are equivalent to approximately $0.57 per $1,000 of assessed valuation; WHEREAS, the voters of East Jefferson approved, in May 2010, a levy lid lift ballot proposition that increased the fire district rate to $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed valuation and this increase requires a match from the City that is in excess of the amounts which can be provided from existing revenues available for this purpose, so long as the limitations of chapter 84.55 RCW apply; WHEREAS, the City Council finds it in the best interest of the City to propose to the voters a lid lift to increase the regular City levy rate to provide funding for fire services, in order to approximately match the East Jefferson levy lid lift and provide a dedicated funding source for such services; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, as follows: Section 1. Findings and Determinations. The City Council hereby makes the following findings and determinations: Resolution 10-017 General Fund Levy Lid Lift Page 2 of 4 1.1 The City Council has determined that it is essential and necessary for the public health, safety and welfare that the City have adequate resources to provide fire protection. prevention and emergency services in the City. 1.2 The City Council further finds that the revenues that will be available to the City to provide such services (which are currently provided under an interlocal contract with East Jefferson Fire and Rescue), as limited by chapter 84.55 RCW and prior voter authorizations under such statute, will be insufficient to provide for this purpose. 1.3 The City Council has therefore determined that it is in the interests of the City and its residents to submit the levy lid lift described below to the voters, in order to produce approximately $652,068 in additional revenues in 2011 to approximately match the increase approved by the voters of East Jefferson. The City Council therefore finds that it is in the best interests of the City to submit to the qualified voters of the City, at an election on August 17, 2010, a proposition authorizing the City to increase its regular levy for collection in 2011 by an amount greater than otherwise permitted under chapter 84.55 RCW for the purposes described in more detail in Section 2, below. If this proposition is approved, the City Council will be authorized to adopt, in accordance with its regular budget process, an increased regular levy in 2011, not to exceed the rate approved by this ballot proposition, which amount shall be used in future levy limit calculations as described in Section 2. Nothing in this resolution or the ballot proposition shall limit previously voter -approved levy lid lifts, and capacity not levied in 2011 under this or any previously -approved levy lid lifts shall remain banked for future use, and shall expire only in accordance with the resolution authorizing the particular levy lid lift. Section 2. Purpose and Description of Ballot Proposition. For the purpose identified below, the City seeks voter approval under RCW 84.55.050(1) for a levy lid lift, as follows: 2.1 Purpose. The amounts collected pursuant to the increase authorized shall be used solely to pay the costs of providing fire protection, prevention and emergency services within the City (pursuant to a contract with the fire protection district). 2.2 Levy Rate Authorized:. The proposition would authorize a maximum regular levy rate of $3.04625 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2011. However, the City Council proposes to levy only $2.49431 per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2011, which is estimated to produce approximately $3,629,568 in total revenues in 2011, and to forego levying $0.57 per $1,000 of assessed value of its current regular general fund levy, which would be banked for future use. This is estimated to produce an incremental increase in the regular property tax rate over the rate to be levied pursuant to the City's previously voter -approved levy lid lift (currently expected to be approximately $2.04{$1,000 plus new construction) of approximately $0.43!$1,000 (or $652,068). 23 Expiration upon Annexation into Fire District or Formation of a Regional Fire Authority. The dollar amount of the regular levy authorized for collection in 2011, in Resolution 10-017 General Fund Levy Lid Lilt Page 3 of combination with any amount or increase otherwise approved by the voters, shall be included in the calculations for the purpose of computing the limitations on subsequent levies under ch. 84.55 RCW, except that if the City annexes into the fire protection district, or the City and the fire protection district form a regional fire authority pursuant to ch. 52.26 RCW, the purposes of this levy lid lift shall be deemed to have been satisfied and the City's authority to levy increased regular property taxes for such purpose shall expire as of the first collection year of a regular levy for such purposes by the fire protection district or regional fire authority. 2.4 Banked Capacity. As described in Section 2.2, if this measure is approved, the City Council commits itself to not levy (but to bank for future use) $0.57/$1,000 of its unrestricted general fund levy until a transportation plan is adopted by Council and then only to apply that banked capacity to capital transportation projects including street and road improvements that are consistent with the City's adopted Transportation Plan. Section 3. Callin¢ of Election and Ballot Proposition. The City hereby requests the Auditor of Jefferson County, as Ex -officio Supervisor of Elections, to call and conduct an election to be held on August 17, 2010, and to submit to the voters of the City the following proposition in the form substantially as follows: PROPOSITION 1 City of Port Townsend FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY LID LIFT The City Council of the City of Port Townsend has adopted Resolution 10-004, concerning the City's regular property tax levy. If approved, Proposition 1 would authorize a maximum 2011 levy rate of $3.04625/$1,000. The $1.00/$1,000 increase is dedicated to fire protection, prevention and emergency services. Unrestricted levy capacity would be banked and reduce the levy to a total of $2.49431/51,000 for collection in 2011. Increases (plus all previously voter -approved increases) will be used in future levy limit calculations, except that this increase expires if the City annexes into the fire district or forms a regional fire authority. Should this proposition be: _ Approved? _ Rejected? Section 4. Notices Relating to Ballot Proposition. For purposes of receiving notice of the exact language of the ballot proposition required by RCW 29A.36.080, the City Council hereby designates the City Attorney as the individual to whom such notice should be provided. Resolution 10-017 General Fund Levy Lid Lift Page 4 of 4 Section 5. Authorization to Deliver Resolution and Perform Other Necessary Duties. The City Cleric is authorized and directed, no later than May 25, 2010, 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 election to be held on August 17, 2010. ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting thereof, held this seventeenth day of May 2010. Attest: 2L"�� Pamela Kolacy, MMC City Clerk Michelle Sandoval, Mayor Approved as to form: J V � John P. Watts City Attorney