Politics & Government

County Parks: Lambert Concerned Over Proposed Levy

Citing issues related to larger park levy costs that could prevent funding to other services, King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert voted no on the proposed Parks Levy this year that will go to voters.

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert has no objection to letting the voters have the final say on the parks levy, but said in a news release Monday she has concerns about the measure which will be sent to the ballot by the Council.

The County Council adopted an ordinance sending to the voters on the August ballot a measure on a six-year property tax levy lid lift proposal to raise revenue by 41 percent for the maintenance and operations of the County’s regional park system, as well as acquisition of new trails and open space. 

The adopted proposal would mean a property tax levy lid lift of 18.77 cents per $1,000 of assessed value – an estimated $56 per year for the owner of a home valued at $300,000. If approved, the levy would replace two set to expire at the end of 2013.

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The two expiring 2007 levies each raise 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. If the new levy lid lift passes, that means property taxes would increase an estimated $26.31 over the current rate for the owner of a home valued at $300,000.

“I love our county parks and my family and I are frequent users,” Lambert said in the release. “But I am concerned that the proposal as written may impede the ability of other junior taxing districts, such as fire and hospital districts, from full funding of their own levies.”  

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Lambert is concerned about potential impact to other essential services around the County. This potential impact on junior taxing districts is called levy suppression and is a recent consideration in dealing with state-imposed tax limits.

“County roads and bridges are in a state of severe decline, with the Roads Division indicating many roads are slated to return to gravel and there are numerous bridges in need of repair,” said Lambert. “Public safety continues to be a top priority.”

“Voters will have a choice to increase funding for expansion of our parks system or to preserve tax capacity for other services such as roads, transit, fire and public safety,” said Lambert. “The voters need to be fully informed on the impact of their choice. As currently written, this is an ‘all or nothing’ choice—which, in my mind is not a real choice.”    

Lambert co-sponsored an amendment to the parks levy with Councilmember Rod Dembowski and Reagan Dunn, requiring annual reporting on progress and maintenance of the system, including reporting on noxious weed control. 

Addressing this amendment, Kenmore Mayor David Baker said, “This amendment will ensure additional, appropriate focus on maintenance needs at King County Parks, including the Burke-Gilman Trail.”

The Metropolitan King County Council today approved sending to the ballot a six-year levy proposal to raise revenue for the maintenance and operations of the County’s regional park and trail system, as well as funding for local city parks and the Woodland Park Zoo. If approved by voters, the proposed levy would replace two voter approved measures set to expire at the end of 2013.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system at 
http://mkcclegisearch.kingcounty.gov  and type in “2013-0112”



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