Edmonds leaders outline $6 million levy ask and cuts if voters decline

Mayor Mike Rosen and Council President Neil Tippett presented three budget scenarios May 22 as the Edmonds City Council sought public input on a proposed levy and other revenue ideas to close a structural budget gap.

Rosen said the city is constrained by a cap on property‑tax increases, noting, “we are limited, to increasing property tax by 1% a year.” He described depleted one‑time pandemic funds, higher insurance costs and staffing competition as causes of the shortfall and gave an initial picture of three choices: adopt the budgeted levy in the amount included in the current proposal, ask voters for a larger package to restore some services, or make deeper cuts if the community rejects a ballot measure.

The nut graf: the council is weighing a plan that would ask voters for about $6 million to maintain current service levels and begin addressing deferred maintenance, while warning that a no vote would require roughly $8 million in additional cuts and further reductions to services residents use.

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The city’s finances. Rosen said Edmonds’ general fund is roughly $50 million in round numbers and that about $16 million of that comes from property tax. He said the police starting budget this year was about $19 million and that only about 14 cents of every property‑tax dollar paid by residents goes to the city: “The last time last year when we did the calculation, it's about 14¢ of every dollar you pay in property tax. So that bill, only about 14¢ of that comes to the city.”

Debt and one‑time funds. Rosen said the…