PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles City Council has approved a 1 percent property tax levy increase for 2019.
Council members voted 6-0 Tuesday — with Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin excused — to adopt an ordinance raising an additional $45,475 in property tax revenue for the city next year.
Total property collection for 2019 is projected to be $4.64 million.
The council passed a resolution finding a need for the allowed property tax increase Nov. 6.
The 1 percent increase will cost the owner of a $200,000 home about $4 more in property taxes next year, acting Finance Director Sarina Carrizosa has said.
“I do think it’s a nominal amount,” Deputy Mayor Kate Dexter said before the unanimous vote Tuesday.
“It’s not a lot. The cost of doing business for the city continues to go up, and this certainly isn’t even keeping up with the rate of inflation.
“While it’s not a lot of money for a lot of people,” Dexter added, “it is an additional expense for some people that just continues to push toward things being really challenging.”
Many cities, counties and junior taxing districts take an annual 1 percent levy increase, the maximum allowed without a vote of the people if 1 percent is less than the rate of inflation.
For 2019 collection, the inflation rate is set at 2.17 percent.
The $45,475 in new property tax revenue does not include the estimated $36,500 in tax collected on $13.38 million worth of new construction.
The 1 percent property tax levy increase was included in the Port Angeles draft budget for 2019.
“I appreciate that we have staff that has created good, sound financial policies so that we can have sustainable budgets that are fundamentally conservative,” Council member Mike French said.
“I think this is part of that, so I will be supporting this motion.”
No public testimony was made in two public hearings on the property tax levy.
Dexter noted that the city has programs to assist low income residents who struggle to pay their utilities.
“I think it would be nice to think about how we might be able to do a little bit more education about that to support people as we continue to make these small rate increases to allow the city to operate effectively,” Dexter said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
