A Community Asset
From the Computer of Mayor Dave
The Burke-Gilman Trail is a community asset that runs like a ribbon through our community. It is a unique section of a regional trail that unfortunately suffers from its own success.
Every day there are many competing users on the trail: homeowners crossing the trail, walkers, in-line skaters, bike riders, parents pushing strollers, seniors using walkers, and people in wheel chairs.
My goal is to bring the divergent interest groups together to begin to resolve the issues related to the redevelopment of the trail. In collaboration with King County, I am forming an Advisory Task Force on the Burke-Gilman Trail. People with diverse perspectives will work to create workable solutions for the trail. If you are interested in applying for the Task Force, contact City Hall or click for an application form.
Impact of Initiative 864
Another statewide initiative could be on the ballot this fall that would dramatically affect the City’s budget. Signature gatherers had until July 2 to get the required number of signatures to place Initiative 864 on the November ballot. I-864 will reduce City property tax revenue by 25% or $640,000. This amount represents 12% of the General Fund annual budget.
The City’s finances have been dramatically impacted by past state- wide initiatives. In 2000, I-695 reduced the City’s budget by $1.3 million and the City was forced to reduce police services. Fortunately, the State was able to assist the most heavily impacted cities with a diminishing subsidy for the past four years. This State assistance is not expected in future years.
In 2002, I-747 limited the annual increase inproperty tax revenue to 1% per year. This annual rate of increase is consistently less than the rate of inflation for basic City services. Both of these earlier initiatives failed in Lake Forest Park.
To maintain City services over the past four years, the City hasreduced police officers, contracted out dispatch services, renegotiated contracts, developed shared public works services with the City of Kenmore, and implemented utility taxes on natural gas and telecommunications services.
The City will not be able to absorb a $640,000 property tax reduction without a noticeable reduction in City services. If I-864 passes, there will be $640,000 of cuts to the budget.
Right now the City is drafting a budget that includes these cuts. This will result in reduced staffing and services. The cuts are likely to include reduced office hours for City Hall and personnel reductions throughout the organization in police, maintenance, permitting and support services.
We will be developing an interactive page on the City’s web page to get your ideas about how to cut the budget. We will also be organizing additional opportunities to receive citizen input into our reduction process.
Another alternative that the City isconsidering is to place a property tax measure on the September ballot. This property tax measure would go into effect only if the initiative passes. It would allow the City to reauthorize the current level of property taxes.
The I-864 savings that would accrue to the average homeowner in Lake Forest Park would be $118 per year or less than $10 per month. The citizens would have the choice of foregoing the $118 per year in property tax savings or having the City reduce $640,000 in City services.
If I-864 makes it on the ballot, the City will be providing a list of which City services would need to be reduced as part of the 2005 budget. The Mayor and City Council plan to get input from citizens to help identify any budget cuts that would be required.