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Resident urges Snoqualmie council to let voters decide levy lid lift
Summary
Downtown resident Ethan Benson told the council he was disappointed the council did not put a levy lid lift on the ballot and criticized use of fund balance to cover day-to-day costs, citing about $500,000 used for flood mitigation.
At the Aug. 10 City Council meeting, Ethan Benson of downtown Snoqualmie used the public-comment period to urge the council to let voters decide whether to place a levy lid lift on the ballot. Benson said he was disappointed the council had effectively removed that choice from voters and criticized the decision to use the city’s fund balance for operating needs.
"That should be the citizens of Snoqualmie making that choice," Benson said, adding he did not find the arguments against putting the measure on the ballot persuasive. Benson said some had argued there was not enough time to review the proposal, but he noted the idea was first raised in mid-May and asked what the council had done in the intervening weeks to inform voters.
Benson also told the council he was concerned about drawing down the fund balance for day-to-day operations rather than keeping those reserves for emergencies; he cited the December flood response when roughly $500,000 was used to mitigate damage. The mayor thanked Benson for his comments; council members and staff said they would consider the input but did not respond substantively during the meeting.
