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Council adopts changes to multifamily tax exemption program (Ordinance 4,973)
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 4,973 to revise the city’s multifamily tax exemption (MFTE) program: staff will lower the income threshold for the extended 12-year exemption so affordable units must be at or below 80% AMI, remove tenant-income reporting for market-rate properties, align reporting cycles, and allow staff discretion on site visits.
The Ellensburg City Council adopted Ordinance 4,973 on second reading at its Oct. 4 meeting, revising the city’s multifamily tax exemption (MFTE) program to streamline administration and tighten the affordability threshold for the extended 12-year exemption.
Billy Fry, housing program manager, told council the ordinance makes several changes: lower the affordability threshold for extended 12-year exemptions so the qualifying affordable 20% of units must be at or below 80% of area median income rather than the previously cited threshold, remove tenant-income reporting requirements for market-rate properties, move all active tax-exemption reporting to a single annual cycle to align with the Washington State Department of Commerce, and give staff the option to conduct on-site property visits rather than require them.
Council conducted the second reading and adopted the ordinance by roll-call vote. The clerk called the roll and recorded Ayes from each member present. The ordinance amends sections of the Ellensburg City Code related to MFTE administration.
