PORT TOWNSEND — Expect a ballot measure in November asking city property owners to approve a special purpose levy lid lift.
The City Council made a significant course correction Monday when it uniformly directed City Manager David Timmons to draft a ballot measure to ask Port Townsend taxpayers to approve a tax increase of 43 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to pay for fire and emergency services.
The ballot measure would stipulate that the increased levy would end upon annexation of the municipal area into Jefferson County Fire District No. 1.
The draft ordinance, which would include the ballot language, is expected to be reviewed at the council’s meeting next Monday.
The council on a 6-1 vote also decided against seeking annexation to the fire district, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue, this year.
The board had previously approved a request to the fire district that it seek annexation in November.
That body approved a resolution to that effect. The only step left was to file the ballot measure with the Jefferson County Auditor’s Office.
The council directed Timmons to negotiate with the fire district on altering a pre-annexation agreement which would set a vote on annexation sometime after Aug. 1, 2012.
The reason: a successful annexation before then could cause a greater tax burden to fall on city property owners than the council is comfortable with, council members said.
Port Townsend currently devotes the equivalent of 57 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation from its general fund, a total of $831,000, to pay for services provided by East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.
However, its agreement with the district calls for city residents to pay the same property tax rate as county residents — $1 for every $1,000 of assessed valuation. That’s where the 43 cents comes in.
In order to address a shortfall of more than $700,000 for 2011 and 2012 between what is budgeted and what the fire district expects from the city, the council and city administration will have to cut other services and programs.
If Port Townsend voters approve an increase in the levy for the special purpose of funding fire and emergency services, the money wouldn’t have to be carved from other areas.
The city’s general fund budget would still include a contribution of 57 cents per $1,000 but be supplemented by the additional special purpose tax.
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Philip L. Watness is a freelance writer and photographer living in Port Townsend. He can be reached at whatnews@olypen.com.
