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Mount Vernon council backs Proposition 1 levy to fund police, fire and parks
Summary
City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting Proposition 1, a levy 'lid lift' that would raise property taxes to pay for six new police officers over six years, additional fire staffing and parks maintenance and capital projects.
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…
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