Mount Vernon council backs Proposition 1 levy to fund police, fire and parks

The Mount Vernon City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt a resolution supporting Proposition 1, a property-tax levy measure the city will put before voters on Nov. 4 to fund basic public safety, essential services and parks improvements.

Mayor and councilors read aloud the ballot language and supporting resolution before hearing presentations from the three departments most affected. Fire Chief Bridal Harris told the council the levy would allow the department to add staff and otherwise blunt what he described as growing fiscal pressure: “Since 2019, the Seattle Tacoma Bremerton CPIU of all items has risen 27% since 2019. The cost of fire apparatus has risen over a 100%. Calls for service for Mount Vernon Fire Department have risen 18.3%, and our operating budget has decreased 50% over that same time frame,” Harris said. He added that the department currently has eight vacant positions and said longer response times and staff burnout were risks if additional funding is not approved.

Police Chief Dan Christman said the measure would address a staffing shortage in the Mount Vernon Police Department by adding six full‑time officers—“1 officer each year for 6 years”—and predicted that an increased presence would reduce crime and shorten response times. Jennifer Berner, the city’s parks and recreation director, described deferred maintenance and accessibility problems raised in the city’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan and said the levy would provide a reliable funding stream for repairs and capital projects such as an inclusive playground at Hillcrest Park and trail connectivity.

The resolution as read into the record describes the ballot proposition this way: City of Mount Vernon Proposition 1, levy for basic public safety, essential services, and improvements. The measure “authorizes a maximum regular property tax levy for collection in 2026 of $2.2537 per thousand of assessed valuation, increased approximately $0.6525 per 1,000 from 2025,” language the council included in the official record.

Council discussion centered on the difficulty of raising taxes, the city’s growth, and the gap between demand for services and current staffing. One council member said the city’s population had grown sharply in recent years, citing a 2025 estimate of about 35,259 residents versus roughly 26,817 in an earlier count; members argued that services had not kept pace. After discussion, a motion to approve Resolution 10-86 (supporting Proposition 1) passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 10-86 — Support Proposition 1 (Levy for public safety, essential services and improvements): passed unanimously (motion carried). Ballot language authorizes a maximum levy of $2.2537 per $1,000 assessed value for collection in 2026 (approximate increase $0.6525 per $1,000 from 2025). - Ordinance 39‑22 — Interim off‑street parking regulations: adopted (motion passed). - Resolution 10‑85 — Surplus of 2010 ladder truck (put up for auction): approved (motion passed). - Ordinance 39‑23 — Amend 2025 salary schedule (IOS supervisor adjustment): adopted (motion passed). - A&E professional services agreements with Pertit Inc. for Riverside Drive Improvements 1 and 2: authorized (motions passed). (Each of the above items appeared on the council consent or new-business calendar and passed during the Oct. 22 meeting.)

The council and presenters emphasized that the levy is intended to be a dedicated source for police, fire and parks rather than general-fund spending. Fire Chief Harris noted the levy would support staffing, training and equipment; Chief Christman said it would address officer shortages; and Parks Director Berner tied the levy to projects and maintenance identified in the PROS plan, including accessibility improvements at Hillcrest Park. The council approved a staff recommendation to publish the city’s formal position in support of the ballot measure.

The council’s action Wednesday was to adopt Resolution 10‑86, placing the city in an official supporting position ahead of the Nov. 4 general election. The measure itself must be approved by voters to take effect.