Vancouver council backs resolution supporting Prop 5 to raise property levy for police, 7-0

The Vancouver City Council voted 7-0 on Oct. 20 to adopt a resolution expressing support for Proposition 5, which would fund additional police officers, equipment and criminal-justice costs by increasing the city's regular property tax levy by about $0.15 per $1,000 assessed value for collection in 2026.

Chief Troy Price, presenting the staff report, said calls for service increased about 24% between 2017 and 2024 and that the department currently cannot investigate roughly 3,200 cases a year. "Our time to respond to calls has begun to stretch out a little bit longer than we would like," Price said. He estimated the increase would equal about $6.75 a month for a household with $500,000 assessed value. The staff report noted qualifying seniors and veterans would be exempt as provided in RCW 84.36 and that RCW 84.55 governs levy calculations for subsequent years.

Two members of the public spoke during the hearing. Bruce Barnes, identifying himself as a lifetime Vancouver resident, said he supports police but warned the levy could be a step toward larger increases and asked for clear projections and spending details. "My bigger concern is the calls for fentanyl overdoses...we've got to figure out the nexus of crime in this community, honestly, before we start hiring more officers," Barnes said. Marsha Jocelyn said she supported additional funding in principle but asked for stronger civil-rights checks after reporting that a Department of Licensing action removed her driver's license without clear explanation.

Following public comment, a council member moved to approve the resolution and the motion was seconded. The council then took a roll-call vote: Council member Harless, Aye; Perez, Aye; Fox, Aye; Paulson, Aye; Stober, Aye; Hansen, Aye; Mayor McInerney Ogel, Aye. The motion passed unanimously.

The resolution approved by council asks that the city publicly support placement of Proposition 5 on the ballot and outlines intended uses as police staffing, equipment and criminal-justice system costs. The staff report prepared for the public hearing included the department's calls-for-service data, an estimate of local taxpayer impact by assessed value, and references to RCW 84.55 and RCW 84.36 governing levy calculations and exemptions.

Council did not adopt implementing spending allocations at the meeting; the vote was limited to a council resolution expressing support for the ballot measure. Council members asked staff for additional expenditure projections and accountability details as the election approaches.