Measure Information - King County

November 4, 2008 General Election

City of Mercer Island

Simple majority (RCW 84.55.050).

Proposition No. 2
Levy for Park Operations and Maintenance

The City Council of the City of Mercer Island adopted Ordinance No. 08-08 concerning property taxes to maintain and operate park and recreational facilities. This proposition would increase the City’s regular property tax levy by $900,000 to a total authorized rate of up to $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2009 and increase the levy as allowed by chapter 84.55 RCW for each of the 15 succeeding years to continue operating Luther Burbank Park, improve forest and vegetative health of open spaces, and operate and maintain park and recreation-related facilities and services. Should this proposition be:

APPROVED
REJECTED

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

If approved by voters, this proposition would increase the City’s regular property tax levy to pay for open space and forest restoration at Pioneer Park and other areas and school-related park and recreation activities. An additional measure on the November 2008 ballot is a Parks Bond. If the Parks Bond is approved by voters, the Parks Operations & Maintenance Levy would provide funding for maintenance costs associated with Parks Bond projects. The Parks Operations & Maintenance Levy would also replace the current levy which pays for operations and maintenance of Luther Burbank Park. Mercer Island City Council agreed to accept transfer of Luther Burbank from King County in 2003 and later that year voters approved a six-year maintenance and operations levy for the park which expires in 2009.

The City’s regular property tax levy would increase by up to 10.2 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation (to a total rate not to exceed $1.25 per $1,000 assessed valuation) for collection in 2009 and increase the levy as allowed by chapter 84.55 RCW. For the owner of an average valued Mercer Island home of $1 million, the estimated annual cost is $113.68 for the Operations & Maintenance Levy. The property tax increase would be in effect for 15 years.

Statement For

The character of Mercer Island is enhanced by well maintained parks, open spaces and recreational facilities. Prime among these is Luther Burbank Park which was transferred from King County to Mercer Island in 2003. Islanders endorsed a 6 year levy, expiring in 2009, to operate and maintain this park. Before you now is a levy which provides for the future maintenance both of Luther Burbank Park and of the additional and improved park, open space and recreational facilities included in the separately described Capital Park Bond. This levy will pay primarily for future Luther Burbank Park maintenance, for forest restoration at Pioneer Park and for the upkeep of city and school related park and recreation activities. At a time when there is growing environmental awareness and an increasing need for recreational and sporting facilities we must maintain the limited assets we have. This levy will increase the annual property tax by $113.68 for a $1 million home but given the expiration of the current Luther Burbank Park levy will result in a net annual increase of $54.29 for the same home. We urge your strong continuing support for the parks and recreational facilities of Mercer Island.

Rebuttal of Statement Against

The opposition focuses on Luther Burbank Park without fully recognizing the extent to which this proposition funds growing operational and maintenance needs for parks throughout the Island. The expiration of the Luther Burbank Levy in 2009 leaves the City with inadequate funds to appropriately maintain our parks. Recently Mercer Islanders showed they valued parks and open space by strongly supporting the funding of off-island King County parks. Let us now support our own.

STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Joe Wallis, Bryan Cairns, Julie Crow

Statement Against

Five years ago, we warned that if Islanders passed the one-time, limited Luther Burbank operations levy, the City Council would definitely be back for more.

They’re back!

In the past, when we acquired a park, operations were funded in the current budget. King County spent a little over $200,000 maintaining Luther Burbank. Five years ago, the City Council nearly doubled that at over $400,000. The Council’s statement in the 2003 voters pamphlet claimed that without the levy “there will be insufficient funds to maintain and operate” Luther Burbank, even though we had over $1 million a year in surplus then and in the five years since then.

In the Luther Burbank master planning process, the public provided strong direction that operations funding for Luther Burbank should come from the general fund as it does for all other parks. The City Council is ignoring that direction.

The Council is not only coming back, but coming back for more, expanding the levy from $400,000 to $900,000 a year and the duration from 6 years to 15 years.

There are funds in the budget to maintain all our parks. This levy frees up those funds for less popular City Council projects. Vote NO.

Rebuttal Of Statement For

Levy supporters wrote in the 2003 Voters Pamphlet, “By limiting the levy to six years, the City Council has stayed true to its promise of examining alternate revenue sources rather than relying only on a permanent levy.” This 15-year levy breaks that Council promise. For the first time in Island history, the Council is expanding taxes by imposing continuing levies. Our parks can be maintained within the budget. For documentation and additional details visit www.livewithinbudget.org .

STATEMENT PREPARED BY: Marty Gale, Ira Appelman, Thornton Gale

Complete Text of Resolution

CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, WASHINGTON

ORDINANCE NO. 08-08

AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the City of Mercer Island, Washington, providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City at an election to be held on November 4, 2008, of a proposition authorizing the City to lift the tax levy limit established in RCW 84.55.010 to pay costs of operating and maintaining City parks and recreation facilities.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance No. 03-16 approved on November 17, 2003, and Ordinance No. 03-17 approved on November 17, 2003, the City of Mercer Island, Washington (the “City”) has in effect a tax levy in excess of the limit established in RCW 84.55.010 to pay costs of operating and maintaining City parks and recreational facilities, including the Luther Burbank Park; and

WHEREAS, the levy lid lift for operation and maintenance of Luther Burbank Park is scheduled to expire December 31, 2009; and

WHEREAS, in order to pay costs of operations and maintenance as found necessary by the City Council, it is deemed advisable that the City impose taxes within the limits permitted to cities and such tax will replace the expiring levy for operation and maintenance of Luther Burbank Park; and

WHEREAS, RCW 84.55.050 authorizes the voters of a City to authorize an increase above the levy limitations established in RCW 84.55.010; and

WHEREAS, the conditions here and above set forth require the holding of a special election in the City;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERCER ISLAND, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Findings. The City Council hereby finds that the best interests of the residents of the City require the City to pay costs of maintenance and operation of City open space, park and recreation facilities, including operating Luther Burbank Park and improving forest and vegetative health of open spaces.

Section 2. Operations and Maintenance Levy. It is hereby found and declared that the best interests of the City require the submission to the qualified electors of the City of the proposition whether the City shall levy regular property taxes above the levy limitations established in RCW 84.55.010 for their ratification or rejection at a special election to be held on November 4, 2008. For the purpose of providing funds necessary to operate and maintain existing and future parks and recreation facilities of the City, the Director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division, as ex officio supervisor of elections in King County, Washington, is hereby requested to call and conduct such special election to be held within the City on such day and to submit to the qualified electors of the City for their approval or rejection, a proposition to increase the City’s regular property tax levy by up to 10.2 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation (to a total rate not to exceed $1.25 per $1,000 assessed valuation) for collection in 2009 and increase the levy as allowed by chapter 84.55 RCW for each of the 14 succeeding years.

Upon approval of the voters of the proposition hereinafter set forth, the City may use proceeds of such levy for the purpose of operating and maintaining City parks and recreation facilities. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to certify the following proposition to the Director of Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division, as ex officio supervisor of elections in King County, Washington, in the following form:

CITY OF MERCER ISLAND

PROPOSITION NO. 2

LEVY FOR PARK OPERATIONS

AND MAINTENANCE

The City Council of the City of Mercer Island adopted Ordinance No. 08-08 concerning property taxes to maintain and operate park and recreational facilities. This proposition would increase the City’s regular property tax levy by $900,000 to a total authorized rate of up to $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2009 and increase the levy as allowed by chapter 84.55 RCW for each of the 14 succeeding years to continue operating Luther Burbank Park, improve forest and vegetative health of open spaces, and operate and maintain park and recreation-related facilities and services. Should this proposition be:

APPROVED? ...................|__|
REJECTED? ....................|__|

Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect five days after its passage, approval and publication as required by law.

PASSED by the City Council of the City of Mercer Island, Washington, at a regular open public meeting thereof held this 4^th day of August, 2008.