PORT ANGELES — Local governments across Clallam and Jefferson counties are wrapping up the final stages of balancing their budgets, with all of them implementing a 1 percent property tax collection increase for at least some of their property tax levies, to help address increasing costs.
Under state law, taxing districts are allowed to collect the same amount as the previous year’s levy collection, plus new construction. If approved by the relevant elected officials, these taxing districts also are allowed to collect 1 percent more than the previous year’s property levy collection, to be spread between the district’s taxpayers.
That would mean that, if a government collected $1 million in property taxes this year, it would be allowed to collect $1.01 million next year, plus new construction, without going to voters for approval.
Any tax collection above the additional 1 percent would require a citizen-approved levy lid lift.
Taxing districts, which typically rely heavily on property taxes, often elect to approve the 1 percent increase to help keep up with inflation, which has risen more than 1 percent each year over the last several years.
“Property taxes are one of the primary sources of revenue for counties,” Clallam County Chief Financial Officer Mark Lane said during a commissioners’ meeting in November.
Counties
Both Clallam and Jefferson counties have three levies: one for the general fund, one for the road fund and one for the conservation futures fund.
The three Jefferson County commissioners unanimously approved a 1 percent levy collection increase for all three funds.
“We always recommend that you take the 1 percent, because I think you know that costs grow more rapidly than the 1 percent,” Jefferson County Administrator Mark McCauley said during a November board meeting.
Those increases will allow the county to collect an additional $91,000 for the general fund, $50,800 for the roads fund and $2,700 for the conservation futures fund.
The three Clallam County commissioners unanimously approved increased collection amounts for two out of three of their funds, despite a public comment period during which more than 15 citizens asked the commissioners to reject the 1 percent increase for all of the funds.
The increase for the general fund will allow the county to collect an additional $123,800, while the increase for the road fund will bring in an additional $83,200.
There will be no greater tax levy collection done for the conservation futures fund, other than collection for new construction.
Cities
Forks, Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend all have approved a 1 percent collection increase.
In Forks, only council member Joe Soha voted against the 1 percent increase, which is supposed to bring the city about $4,040 in additional funds, according to Forks utility biller and administration assistant Kim Weissenfels.
In Port Angeles, the resolution to increase property tax collection by 1 percent in passed 6-1, with council member Brendan Meyer voting against it.
The levy collection increase is expected to bring the city an additional $51,100 in property taxes, city Finance Director Sarina Carrizosa said during a November council meeting.
The resolution to increase property tax collection by 1 percent in Sequim also passed 6-1, with Mayor Brandon Janisse voting against it. That increase is expected to bring the city an additional $18,245.
The Port Townsend City Council unanimously voted to approve a 1 percent tax collection increase for the general levy and the library levy.
“This is one of our largest sources of revenue,” Port Townsend Finance Director Jodi Adams said during a November city council meeting.
These increases will bring the general fund about $26,000 of additional revenue, and the library fund an additional $12,190.
Property owners Clallam County can look up their property’s assessed value through the county assessor and treasurer property search tool. Once the address is input, individuals can look at property tax trends for their location over the years.
Owners in Jefferson County can do the same through the county’s assessor and treasurer property search tool.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
