[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6153483,"mediaKeyId","5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e","parentId",5492764,"title","Finance director reports sales-tax and lodging-tax gains; construction permits and building revenue remain subdued","audioSeconds",1233,"startMs",4410000,"endMs",5643000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e&start=4410&end=5643","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e/thumbnail_4410000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6153483/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Finance-director-reports-sales-tax-and-lodging-tax-gains-construction-permits-and-building-revenue-remain-subdued","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153483-1f828d4bd3b7367e9becb6a865d26ebe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161653&Signature=bDwf2py34dhRdV0YR1NlSuqsMjYsaaHCZ6xz5qvm--RPkYoI06a8aVS~MFaR34hSQuwqZw9qGPy5I1lrG3WJR3FoGtEpgmf6sxcylcqWuCL7OO6NkIa~cs47Yedc5zRlDRGtANlkasK649AFUbeNGNRfl6hJAXSrIzliakG1q8ajsha0LCafMMPSwtjwGGxlh6Ms51ff5EgmaDyrrE7uP08jX9dfJBX5LiMALXzxEA5rjniMbva1uHDhOdqRXgkYJyR92o3hFeO8tTA1FZKZtQx4QkrDVF~9wI11ELEcwxvNX4BJ6excIgfhAGVeqx5CatapcYI9PUAUG-m0WiTasw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Anacortes, WA","date","2025-07-29T00:54:20Z","article","The city\u0000s finance update on July 28 showed mixed revenue signals: sales and lodging taxes are tracking above recent years, while building-permit activity and single-family housing starts remain low.

Why it matters: Sales-tax and lodging-tax receipts underpin base municipal services and LTAC supports tourism-related projects; their direction affects budget choices and capital planning. Lower building-permit activity reduces development-related fee revenue and suggests a slower construction market.

Finance staff member Hoglund presented the quarterly update and said that, through July receipts (which reflect May activity for sales tax), cumulative sales-tax collections are about $3.2 million, \"up about 4.9%\" from the same period last year and about 6.3% over the year-to-date budget. Hoglund attributed a large share of the July sales-tax increase to online retail (NAICS category \"other miscellaneous retailers\") and heavy construction related to the city\u0000s wastewater outfall project; he noted single-family construction-related receipts were down.

On lodging taxes, Hoglund reported $243,000 collected through May and projected full-year LTAC at about $561,000, consistent with recent years. Councilmember Walters asked whether LTAC might be used to support the proposed event center\u0000s debt service; staff said that LTAC is the likely debt service source if the city issues bonds to cover its share of construction costs, but final funding decisions depend on design and cost outcomes.

Private-utility tax receipts (electricity, cable, natural gas and telephone) were notably higher than budget, reflecting state clean-energy costs passed through to customers; Hoglund said the private-utility tax category was about 12% higher year over year and more than 18% above budget in the reporting period. Real-estate excise tax collections were about $600,000 year to date; REET receipts derive from recorded property sales and remain variable.

Building-permit volume and revenue were weaker: through June the city issued 16 new-construction permits generating about $117,000 in permit revenue. Hoglund and councilmembers observed that the city\u0000s new permit software (SmartGov) and current market conditions make year-over-year comparisons imperfect, but the overall trend is lower single-family starts compared with pre-pandemic peaks.

Other items reported: the city\u0000s cash balances, rainy-day and restricted balances were outlined; staff noted a $25,000 deductible on a new equipment-insurance policy that staff proposed addressing by a one-time general-fund transfer to the equipment-rental internal fund. The council also approved a non-substantive update to the unified fee schedule clarifying cemetery terminology and stormwater-review language (Resolution 31-83), and staff said a second-quarter budget amendment ordinance would return on next week\u0000s consent agenda so members could review details.

Ending: Staff will refine permit- and revenue-trend detail and provide follow-up on the insurance-deductible funding source and the budget-amendment ordinance. Council members requested additional analysis tying revenue increases to specific NAICS sectors for future updates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Anacortes - City Council Meeting, 7/28/25 (Zoom Livestream)","oneSentenceSummary","The city\u0000s finance update on July 28 showed cumulative sales-tax receipts of about $3.2 million to date (up roughly 4.9% vs. last year) and a projected lodging-tax total of $561,000 for the year; building-permit revenue and single-family starts remain below prior peaks.","taxTitle","Anacortes, Skagit County, Washington","taxId",51056,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153488,"Council approves interlocal and sends Fidalgo metropolitan park district (pool) proposition to voters; public urges ballot clarity",1124,3406000,4530000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e&start=3406&end=4530","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e/thumbnail_3406000.jpg","/articles/6153488/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Council-approves-interlocal-and-sends-Fidalgo-metropolitan-park-district-pool-proposition-to-voters-public-urges-ballot-clarity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153488-14c620ce330b39684dc8124ee16419dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161653&Signature=TMQ6UZ5pUdn8XgeLAKcbBCg-IPnKotSokAgGLDz1qWMa~oYNJWdDd5E5bh5HtBHs~F28lSqMDWXc3HfTgGtMFu9s871VUXfBtPQlhp5dkk-GBz2R-OlKyb~mejOL-ArHMcrWi5GyHZmm6I-4c73~MMrDbpVSdlMj1q1mzG8TM3b4NfA9NQ7JVKm4z-mBRzuqLOOyYXPXa9T95TUS7mG3F5GRFEcJUt-TXQoy92tl8nQNEeNTq~fOpJxOUx7i53F77qkruuuw-m97KN3HUqp2WOR~QgSAmrXGfUoYv9dG36h--YUfJEajF3dPUUjfrXIdY3mOvWvkUVjQ3~0VW9NeQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anacortes City Council on July 28 approved an interlocal agreement with the Fidalgo Parks and Recreation District assigning election responsibilities for a November ballot measure and adopted Resolution 31-84 requesting that voters consider creating a Fidalgo Metropolitan Park District (MPD) limited to operating the Fidalgo pool and fitness center campus.

Why it matters: If voters approve the proposition, the new MPD would levy property taxes within authorized limits to fund operations for the pool campus and create a five-member board to govern the district. The measure narrows the district\u0000s stated purpose to the pool campus; the change from a broad-purpose MPD to a special-purpose MPD was requested by the pool district and affects future taxing and borrowing options.

Staff member Swetnam briefed council that the pool district requested the district be \"limited purpose\" and that the ballot language now describes the district as established \"to operate the Fidalgo pool and fitness center campus.\" She noted the ballots are subject to a 75-word limit under state law.

Public commenters raised concerns about ambiguity in the draft language. Cindy Camp, who identified herself as a resident of Guimas Island, asked the council to add explicit limits to the ballot language, saying, \"Levy funds shall be used solely for o and m with no diversion to debt service without voter approval.\" Camp also urged language limiting commissioner salaries and exploring alternative board formats (for example, ex-officio or mixed boards) before finalizing the ballot materials.

Council members and staff responded that statutory powers of MPDs remain but that major capital borrowing typically would require voter approval. Swetnam and councilmembers said that the proposed ballot language and the district\u0000s special-purpose designation narrow the district\u0000s stated focus to the pool campus and that the district can pursue additional funding measures in the future. Councilmember Walters said the revised language \"restricted the uses of this Metropolitan Park District to what I think we all understood was the use, the pool and the pool campus.\" He moved approval of the interlocal; that motion passed by roll call. Councilmember McDougall moved adoption of Resolution 31-84; the motion carried by roll call.

Actions and votes recorded on the dais: council authorized the interlocal agreement for election responsibilities (motion by Hubick, second by Young; roll-call vote: Young: yes; Walters: yes; Cleland McGrath: yes; Moulton: yes; McDougall: yes; Heavic/Hubick: yes; Fantini: yes). The council then voted to adopt Resolution 31-84 (motion by McDougall; second by Hubick), again passing on roll call.

Next steps: staff will submit final ballot materials in coordination with the county and the pool district; the pool district will also place commissioner positions on the ballot, per the pool district\u0000s process. Several councilmembers asked the pool district to keep refining ballot language for clarity before printing, and public commenters urged additional explicit limits on levy use and commissioner compensation.

Ending: The council\u0000s votes put a limited-purpose Fidalgo MPD proposition on the November ballot and formalized the city\u0000s election-role interlocal; ultimate authority to form the district will rest with voters.","The Anacortes City Council on July 28 authorized an interlocal to place a limited-purpose metropolitan park district for the Fidalgo pool campus on the November ballot and adopted Resolution 31-84 requesting the proposition be submitted to voters.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153492,"Anacortes, Port advance interlocal plan for 400‑seat waterfront event center; city would help pay design and debt service",1968,1519000,3487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e&start=1519&end=3487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e/thumbnail_1519000.jpg","/articles/6153492/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/Anacortes-Port-advance-interlocal-plan-for-400seat-waterfront-event-center-city-would-help-pay-design-and-debt-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153492-a824504696b8173684d488623fd69d77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161653&Signature=dradgHbHhuM7aMP5l9uWktaiNvOz0QaN766jAh76n42d-gs9nHOX~RefQpN4masIBBVubyGOZSrgu1Wm9RiNU4x2~7OZvS-irRvWeYgIFSyzfNzN9dllS3Z0IhfoEJvo78JtGA~bNBcI-Ypp3Ok-2e3ZA4FhUrAEsqKWXPF24Le0OpMQhrzUnYX2R7YziJ1HYY69ZYJF5u3tbjwGrUncGxW6tqIZWA2uS8BRXHwsrITODdreaxFjtzRUyGGw-NIE5tqZlW~-uVNEaQs6jOKink88GExIX3FKN2qNhF5fP~IAnKhNkpAuPar3PyAWqt4R2eScSwMlNUBTFhHjs8M85Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials and port commissioners presented interlocal agreements July 28 that would guide design, construction and long-term operation of an event center in the Port of Anacortes\u0000s West Basin. The Port of Anacortes would build and operate the facility on port-owned property; the city would reimburse the port for half of design and construction costs and anticipates using lodging-tax (LTAC) revenue to pay debt service if the city issues bonds to finance its share.

Why it matters: The proposals would enable a new waterfront venue for local and regional events while exposing the city to financing decisions and ongoing obligations tied to LTAC revenues. The council and port framed the project as a partnership intended to increase tourism capacity and provide a home for events that previously used the transit shed.

Staff member Swetnam introduced the agreements to the full council, emphasizing the interagency collaboration that produced the draft documents. Swetnam said the design-and-construction interlocal \"provides a lot of the ground rules about how the parties are gonna move through the remainder of the design process and manage construction of the facility\" and described a planned port-city project team to guide design reviews.

Key terms discussed: the design-and-construction agreement would run through Dec. 31, 2028; the operations agreement would run through Dec. 31, 2057. The city and port used a $9,000,000 estimate (in 2024 dollars) for the project\u0000but the agreements include termination triggers if projected costs or permitting do not align with expectations. Swetnam said the facility would \"allow up to 400 person events depending on the configuration\" and would include a catering kitchen, a green room and restrooms; an optional lease area for permanent tenants (for example, an ice-cream vendor) would be built at the port\u0000s cost.

On financing, port and city staff described a likely structure in which the city issues general-obligation debt and uses lodging-tax revenue to pay the debt service. Swetnam said those mechanics informed due diligence and outside counsel review before circulating the interlocal drafts to elected officials.

Council discussion focused on programming, design details and cost control. Councilmember Walters said he is a \"fervent supporter\" of the concept but urged that design work consider \"a kitchen versus just a catering kitchen\" or the ability to attach a mobile kitchen. Walters also asked that the design provide continuity between indoor and overflow outdoor areas so events can expand into adjacent park space.

Councilmember McDougall urged the city to quantify projected economic impact during later design phases, asking staff to estimate annual economic benefits, including the multiplier effect of visitor spending and construction activity. Swetnam and other council members said further user-group input and iterative design work aim to lower cost and preserve a roughly 400-person capacity while trimming nonessential elements.

Next steps: staff said the drafts still include blanks to be filled; the port and city expect to finalize documents and schedule a joint port-city meeting for formal approval in the coming weeks. No formal council action was taken on July 28; the item was presented for discussion and possible future action.

Community and procedural notes: Swetnam and port staff said the port introduced similar documents at the port commission meeting July 17; council members who serve on the port-city liaison described months and years of coordination with user groups and with RMC Architects, the consultant that produced the conceptual design. Council members and staff noted the draft documents include multiple exit points if projected costs rise above the agreed estimate or permitting cannot be obtained.

Ending note: Councilmembers said they want additional detail on the permitting timeline, final cost estimates and the bond structure before any execution of the interlocal agreements. City staff indicated the lodging-tax reserve has approximately $1.5 million available to support further design work and that design iterations aim to reduce the $9 million estimate before committing to construction.","City officials and port commissioners presented interlocal agreements July 28 that would guide design, construction and long-term operation of an event center in the Port of Anacortes\u0000s West Basin.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153479,"City reports wastewater outfall switched to new pipe; project cost $17 million, FEMA reimbursements ongoing",164,573000,737000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e&start=573&end=737","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492764-a86bcd0ae07d30b070027e75efb7251e/thumbnail_573000.jpg","/articles/6153479/Anacortes/Skagit-County/Washington/City-reports-wastewater-outfall-switched-to-new-pipe-project-cost-17-million-FEMA-reimbursements-ongoing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153479-04052833ed7d00f6452c9d7415bdd6ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771161653&Signature=F0xWVW1A2045mtM-7wTrOKsuj0PskHAdTujgnOfDnfL-PZsNG1KaHeSWX2hfacMP~MlIGZUFvmPPyzOUlVAo28290ABlLg9XJD3Ntmcp~7RTJbq0y0OLeBpdVs22SQeNgJcv18A2x4n93BElBrx62-qeAilIHWjbct-E~gzaPDqylyfNdg-Sf3VdHWIzIC1vCBjSKchhBGX6mWgQyAEgPFBMigXzMvq2wDqhk1vceGacIX2BLliis9PTD5N57ICIZWLuOHaqON1Fvy8mFn-jApScOw8BEEscUurSTu7nNi5eeNXCTFDlMGCUSKGkORjL-Z~OnQ49S7u63uWEp9QuWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Miller announced July 28 that the city switched wastewater flows to a newly installed outfall pipe for the wastewater treatment plant and that divers verified the pipeline is functioning.

Why it matters: The outfall relocation is a major capital project that restores and improves wastewater discharge capability following previous damage; it affects environmental compliance and plant capacity.

Mayor Miller said the outfall relocation was a roughly $17,000,000 project and that the city has been reimbursed about $14,000,000 by FEMA; she added the city\u0000s share is approximately 5 percent. Miller told council the new outfall increases the facility\u0000s capacity \"from 10,000,000 gallons a day to 15,000,000 gallons a day,\" a 50% increase, and that divers completed an inspection on Thursday and confirmed the system is functioning as designed.

Ending: City staff and council characterized the operation switch as positive progress; any future permitting or follow-on work will be managed through the city\u0000s capital and operations teams.","Mayor Miller told the council the wastewater treatment plant outfall relocation switched over to the new pipe and divers confirmed the installation was functioning. The project cost was reported at $17 million; FEMA has reimbursed about $14 million so far and the new outfall increases capacity from 10 million to 15 million gallons per day.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance director reports sales-tax and lodging-tax gains; construction permits and building revenue remain subdued

Council approves interlocal and sends Fidalgo metropolitan park district (pool) proposition to voters; public urges ballot clarity

Anacortes, Port advance interlocal plan for 400‑seat waterfront event center; city would help pay design and debt service

City reports wastewater outfall switched to new pipe; project cost $17 million, FEMA reimbursements ongoing