PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend City Council is asking residents to put their money where their mouth is.
Citing community desires and feedback collected from recent town meetings, the council this week by a 6-1 vote approved a resolution that will place a tax election known as a “levy lid lift” on the Aug. 19 primary election ballot.
The levy lid lift comes with the stipulation that revenues will go directly to a specific operational fund for the Port Townsend Library — which Port Townsend residents identified as one of the town’s “special places” in recent town hall meetings.
If voters approve exceeding the 1 percent annual tax increase limit for the library, the revenues will be used specifically for funding operational costs at the library and not on new construction or moving the library, according to the resolution passed by the City Council on Monday night.
If the ballot measure passes, it will also free up money from the general fund currently being used to fund the library.
The council’s resolution says those funds will be used to support parks, community services and capital facilities.
“By having this single vote, it frees up money,” said Mayor Michelle Sandoval.
“The vote is actually for the library, parks and rec, community services and capital facilities.
“We want to fund [the services] and let the community know we heard them at the community meetings.
“This does that.”
