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Washington council debates options for the 2025 property tax levy during first reading
Summary
At its December meeting Mayor Lillia V. Stevens and council members discussed three first-reading ordinances related to the 2025 tax levy and a $4.735 million bond abatement. Finance staff explained a 'green' 4.13% levy option that would cover rising special levies and a 'yellow' option limited to new development; councilmembers voiced differing preferences and asked for further budget work ahead of final action.
Mayor Lillia V. Stevens presided over a December meeting where finance staff provided a detailed first reading of proposed actions on the 2025 property tax levy and related budget scheduling. The council did not adopt the levy at the meeting; staff characterized the items as first readings and explained options for the levy and timing for budget work.
Joni, the finance staff member who reviewed the levy options, described the so-called "green" option as producing a 4.13% increase in the total levy while noting that about 0.99 percentage points come from new development and the remainder covers increases in special levies such as police pension, Social Security/Medicare and other obligations. "The green option covers it, and there's no impact to the general fund," Joni said, adding that the green option requires roughly a $94,000 increase to cover the rising special levies.
Joni characterized an alternate "yellow" option as taking only the 0.99% tied to new development. She said that option would produce roughly $22,000 toward the special levies but would leave the city approximately $72,200 short, which would shift pressure to the general fund at budget time. "The yellow option covers part of it, but we're still about $72,200 short," Joni said.
Alderson McIntyre said he favored the green option. "I continue to support moving forward with the 4.13," McIntyre said, arguing the change was a small portion of the overall property tax burden and would preserve funds for contracted services such as fire and ambulance. Alderson Moss said he also supported taking the modest increase tied to new development (referred to in discussion as roughly 0.99% or "1%"), noting it aligns with expected growth.
Council members asked staff to clarify timing and the mechanics that determine whether individual property owners see a tax increase. Joni explained that while the total levy would be higher under the green option, the taxable rate could fall and some owners may still see changes because of equalization and local assessments.
The council also reviewed the proposed budget schedule for fiscal year 2026–27, with staff planning a capital improvement plan and a budget strategy meeting tentatively set for January to walk through major capital requests using ClearGov software.
What happens next: the ordinances on the levy and the bond abatement were presented as first readings; council members asked for continued review and will address final levy adoption and related budget decisions in subsequent meetings and at budget hearings.
