HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-031 Ordinance relating to the annual property tax levy; declaring the City Council's intent to increase the City's 2026 regular levy up to 101% along with the new construction, annexation, refunds and growth in state-assessed property values from thORDINANCE A
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-031
AN ORDINANCE relating to the annual property tax levy; declaring the City Council's intent
to increase the City's 2026 regular levy up to 101% along with new
construction, annexation, refunds and growth in state -assessed property
values from the amount levied the previous year.
WHEREAS, RCW 84.55.120 requires a taxing district that collects regular levies to hold a
public hearing on revenue sources for the district's following year's current expense budget,
including consideration of possible increases in property tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 84.55.120 and the City Charter, on November 12, 2025,
upon due and proper legal notice, the Yakima City Council held a public hearing to consider the
City's general government revenue sources for the 2026 current expense budget, and the total
proposed property tax levy amount pertaining to 2026 revenues from real and personal property
taxes; and
WHEREAS, RCW 84.55.120 provides that no increase in property tax revenue, other than
that resulting from the addition of new construction, improvements to property, and any increase
in the value of state -assessed property, may be authorized by a taxing district, except by adoption
of a separate ordinance or resolution, pursuant to notice, specifically authorizing the increase in
terms of both dollars and percentage; and
WHEREAS, RCW 84.55.005 sets the limit factor for the increase in the regular property
tax levy at the lesser of one hundred one percent or one hundred percent plus inflation, which is
defined as the percentage change in the implicit price deflator (IPD) for personal consumption
expenditures for the United States as published for the most recent twelve-month period by the
bureau of economic analysis of the federal department of commerce by September 25th of the
year before the taxes are payable; and
WHEREAS, the applicable percentage change in the Implicit Price Deflator was 2.44%;
and
WHEREAS, RCW 84.55.0101 allows a taxing district to use a limit factor of one hundred
one percent upon a finding of substantial need by the legislative authority by a majority vote; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, after the public hearing on November 12, 2025 and, after
duly considering all relevant evidence and testimony presented, has determined that the City
requires an increase in property tax revenue from the previous year, along with the addition of
new construction and improvements to property and any increase in the value of state -assessed
property, in order to discharge the expected expenses and obligations of the City, and as being
necessary and in the best interests of the citizens of the City of Yakima; and
ORDINANCE A
WHEREAS, the maximum levy rate the City of Yakima can levy is $3.10/$1,000 assessed
valuation (AV) plus $0.225/$1,000 AV specifically for Firemen's Relief and Pension Fund and will
not change as a result of this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, property tax is a tax based on ownership of a piece of real estate. A "levied
property tax" is generally a tax imposed on property owners, based on the value of their property
and the municipal government's needs; and
WHEREAS, the city levy rate has decreased from $3.10/$1,000 AV to $1.85/$1,000 AV in
2025 and staff is projecting the levy rate for 2026 to be $1.87/$1,000 AV; and
WHEREAS, in order to bring the current levy rate to the maximum allowed, a levy lid lift is
required and the City of Yakima residents will need to approve such ballot measure; and
WHEREAS, the amount of property tax levied for collection in 2025 was $22,357,999.57
for general government purposes; and
WHEREAS, the discretionary increase in property tax levied attributable to the inflation
factor for collection in 2026 shall be in the amount of $223,580, which is a percentage increase
of 1.0% from the previous year; and
WHEREAS, the non -discretionary increases in property tax levied for collection in 2026
can only be estimated due to the absence of final values to be provided by the Yakima County
Assessor, now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. The following increases in the regular property tax levy, over the amount of
the previous year's levy, are hereby authorized to be cumulatively levied for collection in 2026:
A. A discretionary increase of $223,580, attributable to the inflation factor
which is a percentage increase of 1.0% over the amount levied for
collection in 2025; plus
B. An estimated increase of $0 for recent annexations; plus
C. An estimated increase of $165,872.01 for new construction and
improvements to property; plus
D. An estimated increase of $198,085.85 for a refund levy; plus
E. An increase authorized by state law for state -assessed property values.
Section 2. The City Clerk is directed to transmit and file a certified copy of this ordinance
with the Board of Yakima County Commissioners and the Yakima County Assessor on or before
November 30, 2025.
Section 3. Pursuant to Article VI, Section 2 of the Yakima City Charter, this ordinance
shall take effect on November 12, 2025.
ORDINANCE A
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 12th day of November 2025
ATTEST: -" ` " M atricia Bye
4,,fry -ham°ice,_._
Rosalinda Ibarra, City Clerk
Publication Date: November 15, 2025
Effective Date: November 12, 2025
Item No. 4.A.
For Meeting of: November 12, 2025
ITEM TITLE:Public hearing and Ordinances pertaining to Ad Valorem Taxes
(property tax) to be levied for collection in fiscal year 2026
SUBMITTED BY:*Craig Warner, Director of Finance and Budget
Kimberly Domine, Financial Services Manager
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Pursuant to RCW 84.55.120, the City Council will hold a public hearing to receive public comments and
input regarding the proposed 2026 property tax levy, including any potential increase over 2025 levels.
Feedback from this hearing will help the Council determine the final property tax rate for 2026.
This agenda item includes two ordinances:
Ordinance A: Authorizes a proposed 1% increase in the property tax levy above 2025 levels, as
allowed by law. Requires a simple majority vote.
Ordinance B: Establishes the maximum property tax levy for 2026 to fund the City’s budget.
Requires a super-majority vote (minimum five Council members).
ITEM BUDGETED: N/A
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25: A Resilient Yakima
RECOMMENDATION: Conduct the public hearing and pass both ordinances by separate motion.
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance A 2026_property tax levy
Ordinance B 2026_ad valorem taxes
2026 Levy.pdf
FY 2026 Property Tax Presentation.pptx