Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Levy Lid Lift topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves multiyear levy lid lift resolution with CPI indexing language
Summary
Council approved a resolution to place a permanent multiyear levy lid lift before voters, amending ballot language to specify the indexing mechanism (consumer price index) and clarifying statutory constraints about stating future maximum rates.
Council approved Resolution 20 26‑50 to submit a permanent multiyear levy lid lift to voters under RCW 84.55.050, and the city attorney clarified how to describe indexation and the first‑year levy rate in ballot language.
The attorney explained that statute allows the ballot to state the total tax rate for the first year but prohibits guaranteeing a specific maximum rate for subsequent years; instead the measure must identify a limit factor or an inflation index such as the consumer price index (CPI) for subsequent adjustments. The attorney used an example showing a first‑year rate and then described how the CPI would be applied in later years. Council approved the resolution to place the measure on the ballot with revised language addressing the indexing mechanism.
Staff will prepare the explanatory statement and related filing materials for the county auditor and proceed with arranging pro/con committee logistics consistent with the governance resolution.
