Sunnyside council adopts 1% increase in 2026 property tax levy

Sunnyside City Council on Nov. 10 adopted an ordinance approving the city’s 2026 ad valorem property tax levies, including a 1% increase in the regular property tax levy and separate levies to cover debt service and refunds.

City Manager presented staff’s recommendation to increase the regular levy by 1%, the maximum allowed by law, which staff said would raise an additional $27,188.14 toward a total requested levy of $2,730,000. The package also included an excess levy of $469,200 to pay interest and principal on the city’s general obligation bond and a refund levy of $37,765.15 to cover abated or canceled taxes recovered between Oct. 1, 2024 and Sept. 30, 2025.

"Staff is recommending to council an increase in the regular property tax levy by 1%, which is the maximum allowed by law," the city manager told the council when describing the recommendation. Staff said calculations reflect new construction, annexations and projected collections verified with the Yakima County assessor.

Councilors debated only briefly. The mayor noted the 1% increase is an annual measure the state permits and that exercising available revenue options can affect the city’s eligibility for other grants. After a motion to adopt the ordinance, the council voted unanimously in favor.

The ordinance was adopted Nov. 10; staff and the assessor will complete the statutory publication and collection steps required before calendar-year 2026 collections begin.