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Council liaison outlines county levy lid lift: $4.5M projected to maintain services, roughly $22/month for average home
Summary
Council liaison Carrie told the FAC the county placed a levy lid lift on the April 28 ballot expected to raise about $4.5 million to avoid a projected $3.5 million shortfall in 2027; she said the levy would cost owners of an average $850,000 home about $22 per month and is intended to preserve current county services.
Council liaison Carrie briefed the Ferry Advisory Committee on San Juan County's proposed levy lid lift, scheduled for an April 28 ballot. "The county has put forth a levy lid lift vote for April 28," she said, explaining that the change would allow the county to increase its revenue beyond the 1% annual cap to address ongoing shortfalls.
Carrie said the levy is not intended to fund new programs but to maintain existing services — including public health, senior services, public safety, victim services, emergency management, Islands Oil Spill Association (IOSA) support, county parks and 4-H programs. "This levy will provide about $4,500,000, which hopefully will last us well into the future," she said. She estimated the impact on homeowners: "It will cost about $22 a month for somebody... with a home... average home of 850,000."
She described the county’s fiscal picture as strained after prior cuts and warned of a projected $3.5 million shortfall in 2027 that could require staff reductions affecting roughly 20% of county personnel. "If we don't pass this property tax, the level of cuts that will have to be made to county services will break the county in a way that has not been seen," she said.
Committee members asked clarifying questions but did not take formal action. Carrie invited residents to contact her or council members with questions and noted the county provides OPMA training and resources for committees to understand legal constraints on meeting conduct.
The FAC plans to monitor public information and any county materials about the levy so it can help answer constituents' questions in coming weeks.
