Kirkland council adopts 2026 property‑tax levy ordinance

The Kirkland City Council adopted Ordinance 49‑14 Nov. 18 setting the 2026 property‑tax levy, the second year of the city's 2025–26 biennial budget. Finance staff presented the levy calculation and reminded council that King County’s final new‑construction totals were still pending and could alter the final collected amount.

Finance director Michael Olson said the proposed levy reflects last year’s base levy plus the allowable 1% increase (a budgeted $~440,000 estimate) and includes a provisional new‑construction adjustment; staff will return with a final ordinance if King County’s new‑construction numbers change the levy total. The ordinance also accounts for minor adjustments such as re‑levied corrections and a roughly $80,000 tax‑increment financing amount for infrastructure in the tax‑increment area.

Council moved and approved the ordinance by roll call with all members voting yes. Olson said the city’s portion of property tax rate would decrease modestly in a commonly used metric because assessed‐valuation growth outpaced the levy increase in the staff projection; staff will publish final numbers and update the ordinance after King County’s final data.

The adopted levy sets the city’s formal request to the county treasurer for collection in calendar year 2026 and allows staff to reconcile the final levy once county figures are finalized.