City Council to hold public hearings Monday on 1 percent property tax, EMS levy increase

Following a review during its Nov. 16 work/study session, the Mountlake Terrace City Council is scheduled to hold public hearings Monday Nov. 20 on 1 percent increases in both the 2018 property tax and the emergency medical services (EMS) levy, as well as a proposed 27-townhome subdivision on 48th Avenue West.

The council will also open a public hearing on a 2017-2018 Mid-Biennial Budget Modification Ordinance, although that is likely to be continued until the next business meeting to allow for inclusion of additional data.

During the Nov. 16 meeting, City Finance Director Crystil Wooldridge explained that there are three options the city council can take regarding the assessment of the 2018 general property tax levy.

– Levy the property taxes without any increase
– Increase the property tax levy by 1 percent
– Increase the property tax levy utilizing $400,000 in banked capacity. This amount followed a decision by the city council last year to not take the full amount of property tax revenues allowed and instead “bank” them for future use.

Staff is recommending that the city use that banked capacity to fund design work in 2018 for the $12.5 million Civic Campus project that was just approved by voters. That will result in a $55-per-year property tax increase for the average Mountlake Terrace home in 2018. Collection of the amount just approved by voters – an increase of $97 annually for the average home — will kick in for 2019, Wooldridge explained.

The city is also recommending the council approve an annual property tax increase of 1 percent, which is a maximum allowed by law, plus a 1 percent increase in the EMS levy.