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College Place staff outline 2026 property tax levy options as assessed values rise
Summary
City staff told the College Place City Council the city could consider using a multi‑year carryover that would allow up to a 4% property tax increase for 2026, described county projections of assessed value and new construction, and showed modeled homeowner impacts using an average home value.
City staff presented options for the 2026 property tax levy to the College Place City Council on Oct. 28, 2025, showing how assessed value growth and the statutory 1% annual levy limit interact and providing modeled impacts for an average College Place home.
Brian Carlton explained the council has a three‑year carryover that could permit up to a 4% levy increase this year and that the city currently collects roughly 2.4¢ on every dollar of property tax collected in Walla Walla County. He said the county is projecting next year’s assessed value for the city at just over $1.2 billion and estimated new construction valuation at just under $11 million. Using those assumptions, staff presented a worked example using an average home value of $403,000 and the city portion of property tax (cited in slides at about $707.86 for that example).
Council members pressed staff for clarification about the difference between changes in assessed valuation and the amount of revenue the city receives. Council member Williams asked for a clear homeowner impact: “What does us taking 0% increase look like to the homeowner's property tax?” Carlton explained that even with a 0% levy increase the example homeowner’s city portion could rise slightly because total assessed valuations increased countywide. Council member Peterson said the council must communicate clearly to residents how percentages at the jurisdiction level translate to household dollar impacts.
Staff also noted the city’s share of the total property tax bucket is relatively small and projected to drop (staff cited roughly 2.4¢ previously and a projected 1.99¢ on the dollar). No levy decision was taken at the meeting; the presentation was informational and will feed into upcoming budget hearings.
