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Councilor proposes 'Community Enhancement Fund' as West Linn faces long‑term budget pressure
Summary
Councilor Kevin Bonnington outlined West Linn's constrained revenue picture (citing mid‑1990s tax limits) and proposed a 'Community Enhancement Fund' to pursue creative financing beyond simple property tax increases to address sidewalks, deferred maintenance and staffing shortfalls.
Councilor Kevin Bonnington described structural revenue limits that leave West Linn with one of the lowest property tax rates in the metro area and said those constraints create service gaps from sidewalks to parks and overnight police staffing.
"Because of complex tax legislation from the mid nineties, the city of Westland is permanently locked in to the lowest property tax rate in the metro area," Bonnington said, urging exploration of new funding mechanisms. He said he would "kick off this conversation and call it Community Enhancement and, Community Enhancement Fund" to pursue creative options beyond basic property tax increases.
