HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2019-122 2020 City-Wide Ballot Proposition for Levy Lid LiftRESOLUTION NO. R-2019-122
RESOLUTION providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Yakima
at an election to be held on February 11, 2020, of a proposition authorizing
the City to lift the levy limit established in RCW 84 55 010 in order to provide
funds to pay the costs of City operations and services, including public
safety, parks and recreation, addressing homelessness, street
maintenance, planning, code enforcement, graffiti removal and other City
services, and providing for severability and an effective date
WHEREAS, Washington State law limits the annual increase of a city's regular property
tax levy to 1% plus an allowance for new construction, unless the voters of a city approve a levy
lid lift permitting the collection of regular property taxes in a greater amount; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima's (the "City") regular property tax levy is a major source of
General Fund revenue paying for the costs of the City's general government services, including
public safety services, parks and recreation services, youth, family and senior services,
addressing homelessness, and others, and
WHEREAS, the costs of providing such basic City services have increased over time due
to economic inflation and growth in the City, yet the City's regular property tax levy has not kept
pace with inflation and growth, and
WHEREAS, existing constraints on the City's capacity to generate revenue for its General
Fund have resulted in cutbacks to some services and threaten the City's ability to provide basic
services into the future, and
WHEREAS, in order to continue to provide the current level of services being provided in
the City, it is deemed necessary that the City increase its regular property tax levy rate to $0.40
per $1,000 of assessed value for collection in 2021 and thereafter to use the resulting levy amount
as the basis for computing the limitations for subsequent levies as allowed by chapter 84 55 RCW,
and
WHEREAS, the City Council deems it necessary to submit to the voters of the City the
proposition of whether or not the City shall levy regular property taxes for collection in 2021 in
excess of the limit factor provided for in chapter 84 55 RCW,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Findings The City Council hereby finds the best interests of the residents of the
City require the City to provide additional funds to pay for the costs of City operations and services,
including but not limited to the following (the "City Services")
• Public safety services, such as crime prevention, police patrol and investigations, fire
suppression and prevention and emergency management and preparedness,
• Youth, family and senior services, such as community -based and mental health services
and safety net services,
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• Parks and recreation services, such as park maintenance, community center operations,
senior recreation services and special events,
• Construction, maintenance and improvement of existing and new City facilities,
infrastructure and streets,
• Addressing homelessness through various means as are appropriate for City -level
interventions, such as crime prevention, code enforcement, and refuse removal,
• Equipment acquisition and replacement, including City police, fire, streets and parks
vehicles,
• Street maintenance, including removal of snow and ice,
• Planning, code compliance and code enforcement;
• Mitigation of graffiti and illegal dumping, and
• Other City operations, maintenance, and services as determined to be necessary from
time to time
The City Council shall determine the timing, order and manner of funding the City Services and
other uses of levy proceeds The cost of all compensation, benefits, training, support services,
equipment, vehicles, infrastructure, facilities, and/or administrative expenses and other costs
incurred in connection with the City Services shall be deemed a part of the costs of such City
Services
Section 2 Calling of Election Regarding the Levy of Additional Regular Property Taxes It is
hereby found and declared the best interests of the City require the submission to the qualified
electors of the City of the proposition whether the City shall levy regular property taxes above the
levy limitations established in RCW 84 55 005 and RCW 84 55 010 for their ratification or rejection
at an election to be held on February 11, 2020 For the purpose of providing funds to pay the
costs of the City Services, the Yakima County Auditor, as ex officio supervisor of elections in
Yakima County, Washington, is hereby requested to call and conduct such election to be held on
such day and to submit to the qualified electors of the City for their approval or rejection a
proposition to increase the City's regular property tax levy by up to $0 40 per $1,000 of assessed
valuation (to a total rate not to exceed $3.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation) for collection in
2021, as allowed by chapter 84 55 RCW The 2021 levy amount will be used as the basis to
calculate subsequent levy limits
Upon approval of the voters of the proposition hereinafter set forth, the City may use proceeds of
such levy to pay the costs of the City Services as more particularly described herein
Section 3. Certification of Ballot Proposition The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed
to certify the following proposition to the Yakima County Auditor, as ex officio supervisor of
elections in Yakima County, Washington, in substantially the following form. The election shall
be held by all mail -in ballot.
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CITY OF YAKIMA
PROPOSITION 1
LEVY LID LIFT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS AND RECREATION,
YOUTH, FAMILY AND SENIOR AND OTHER
CITY SERVICES AND OPERATIONS
The City of Yakima City Council adopted Resolution No
concerning funding for City services and operations This
proposition would provide funding to sustain City operations and
services, including public safety, parks/recreation, youth/family,
addressing homelessness, street and facilities maintenance, and
other services, by increasing the City's regular property tax levy by
$0 40/$1,000 to a maximum rate of $3 10/$1,000 of assessed
valuation for collection in 2021 The 2021 levy amount will be used
as the basis to calculate subsequent levies, consistent with RCW
84 55
Should this proposition be approved?
YES
NO
The City Manager and City Attorney are authorized to make such minor adjustments to the
wording of such proposition as may be recommended by the Yakima County Auditor, provided
the intent of the proposition remains clear and consistent with the intent of this resolution
Section 4 Local Voters' Pamphlet Authorized The preparation and distribution of a local
voters' pamphlet providing information on the foregoing ballot measure is hereby authorized The
pamphlet shall include arguments advocating approval and disapproval of the ballot measure In
accordance with RCW 29A.32 280, the arguments advocating approval and rejection of the ballot
measure shall be prepared by committees appointed by the City Council by resolution not later
than forty-five days before the publication of the pamphlet. Each committee shall be composed
of not more than three persons, however, a committee may seek the advice of any person or
persons The committee advocating approval shall be composed of persons known to favor the
ballot measure, and the committee advocating rejection shall be composed of persons known to
oppose the ballot measure
Section 5 Corrections by City Clerk. Upon approval of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and
the code reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this resolution, including the
correction of clerical errors, references to other local, state or federal laws, codes, rules, or
regulations, or resolution numbering and section/subsection numbering
Section 6 Severability. If any one or more section, subsection, or sentence of this Resolution
is held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portion of this resolution and the same shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 7 Effective Date This resolution shall become effective immediately after its
adoption
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ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 3rd day of December, 2019
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
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ITEM TITLE:
SUBMITTED BY:
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEM ENT
Item No. 17.
For Meeting of: December 3, 2019
Resolution authorizing a 2020 City-wide ballot proposition for Levy
Lid Lift
Alex Meyerhoff, Interim City Manager
Steve Groom, Director of Finance and Budget
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Consideration of a Resolution stating the City of Yakima's support of a 2020 City-wide ballot
proposition for Levy Lid Lift as approved unanimously by the City Council on October 16, 2019.
The attached memo outlines the rationale and the purpose of the proposed lid lift. Deanna
Gregory, who regularly represents the City in bond proceedings and assists cities in levy lid lift
resolutions, will participate in the public discussion at this council meeting. Department heads
who can speak to service -delivery constraints will also be available for this discussion.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOM M ENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
CI r Memo
D resolution
Upload Date
11 /25/2019
11 /0/2019
Type
erno
ergo