Edmonds City Council to Consider Several Massive Tax Increase Proposals

When Edmonds voters were asked by city leaders to approve a property tax increase of approximately $1,000 per household to be annexed into the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) earlier this year, they were not told the full story.

Shortly after voters approved this massive property tax increase, the City of Edmonds is moving forward with 5 new tax/fee proposals:

• A property tax levy lid lift amounting to $14.5 million per year (with an automatic inflator for future years) which will be voted on by citizens this November
• A local business and occupation (B&O) tax which is currently being reviewed by the city’s Economic Development Commission and will eventually be considered by the City Council to pass without voter approval
• Establishing public parking fees which is currently being reviewed by the city’s Economic Development Commission and will eventually be considered by the City Council
• A sales tax increase amounting to $1.3 million per year for public safety which the City Council will have a final vote on at their next meeting
• A separate sales tax increase amounting to $1.3 million per year for “cultural access to the arts” which the City Council will be holding a public hearing on at their next meeting.

Individually, these various proposed tax and fee increases will place an additional burden on citizens and businesses already struggling with keeping up with high costs of living. Cumulatively, these new taxes will cripple the economic climate in Edmonds, pricing out homeowners and driving small business to other communities.

The City of Edmonds’ budget deficit is a self-inflicted problem resulting from years of reckless overspending from city leaders. Rather than addressing the budget deficit through spending reductions, city leaders are now poised to implement all of these new taxes and fees in one year.

The meeting is Tuesday, August 19^th at 6:00pm. Here’s what you can do to oppose these tax increases and make your voice heard:

• Submit written public comment here.
• Email the City Council here.
• Attend the meeting in-person: 250 5^th Avenue N, Edmonds, WA 98020.

Now is the time to speak up and remind city leaders that Edmonds residents deserve responsible budgeting, not endless new taxes.