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Bellevue council approves mid‑biennial budget package, authorizes CDBG and levies 1% property tax increase
Summary
In a rapid‑fire sequence, council approved the 2026 CDBG funding recommendations, development and right‑of‑way fee updates, a sewer rate pass‑through, and the 2026 property tax levy that includes a 1% adjustment; council also adopted a resolution to bank levy capacity.
Bellevue council on Nov. 18 adopted a package of mid‑biennial budget ordinances and related measures in a rapid sequence of votes.
Among the approvals: Ordinance 6878 accepted the Human Services Commission’s recommended use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for 2026 and authorized staff to submit the HUD grant proposal and enter into subrecipient agreements; Ordinance 6879 updated development services fees and rates; Ordinance 6880 adopted various fees for wireless facilities in the public right‑of‑way and access to city electrical facilities; and Ordinance 6881 revised sewer service charges to account for King County pass‑through costs.
Council then adopted Ordinance 6882 setting the 2026 property tax levy, which includes the 1% property tax adjustment that staff said was incorporated into the previously adopted biennial budget. Several councilmembers voiced opposition to the increase citing affordability concerns; supporters said the adjustment protects long‑term fiscal stability and service levels. Staff said the median Bellevue property tax bill impact at current median home value (~$1.5 million) would be about $15 per year.
Council subsequently adopted Resolution 1055555 to bank unused levy capacity pursuant to Washington state RCW citations provided in the motion. Finally, the council adopted Ordinance 6883 — the umbrella ordinance — making technical appropriations and amendments to the biennial budget and the 2025–2030 capital improvement program.
All ordinances and the banking resolution passed on voice votes as recorded in the meeting minutes; specific council votes opposing the property tax increase were recorded in the discussion.
