HomeMy WebLinkAbout1695Resolution No. 1695
CON0=1 04-Finance
Passed 12/14/2004
[''Beginning August 1, 2004"]
Banked Property Tax-Public Safety
RESOLUTION NO. /b95
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City
of Kent, Washington, requiring that the City apply the
additional revenue received from use of the City's banked
property tax exclusively for hiring and maintaining
additional public safety positions.
RECITALS
A. Because of an economic downturn and because of the revenue losses
caused by tax cutting initiatives, the City of Kent, for approximately three (3) years,
has undergone a substantial downsizing and restructuring of its organization.
B. As a result of this restructuring, the City has reduced its total number of
employees, either through layoffs or through attrition, by fifty-three (53) employees.
These positions have been removed from the City's books and have been deleted from
its organizational structure. However, in addition to these eliminated positions, the
City has maintained ten (10) "frozen" (or unfilled) public safety positions-six (6)
firefighters and four ( 4) police officers.
C. Kent's citizens have always demanded, expected, and received the
highest quality of public safety services. Our police and fire departments are among
just a few in the state to receive national accreditation. Kent has consistently
endeavored-and succeeded-in being "the best of the best." Public safety is a
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primary responsibility, and fulfllling that responsibility is critical to preserving the
level of service and the level of safety the City Council wants to provide its citizenry.
D. In the past, the City has reserved and has not levied a portion of its real
property tax capacity, under the authority of state law. The City Council has elected,
in the past, not to use this "banked" tax capacity in an attempt to somewhat reduce the
impact of property tax increases implemented by King County to reflect a real estate
market that has seen explosive growth in residential real property values.
E. Although the Council has and continues to be responsive to its citizens'
expressed desire to limit taxes, the City must also balance the citizens' need and
demand for adequate police and fire protection.
F. Using the City's reserved banked tax capacity will increase the rate per
$1,000.00 of assessed valuation on all property in the City of Kent in the estimated
amount of 1.1 cents (1.1¢) per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation. This slight increase
may, however, result in a slightly more dramatic increase for individual taxpayers if
King County raises individual property valuations above the County's average 2004
valuations.
G. Balancing the citizens' desire to limit taxes against their desire for
exceptional public safety services, the City Council has determined that, in this limited
instance, the public benefit derived from adding back these police and fire positions
outweighs the public burden caused by the use of the City's banked property tax levy.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT,
WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
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RESOLUTION
SECTION 1. -Reaitals Incorporated. The foregoing recitals are incorporated
into this resolution.
SECTION 2. -Public Sqtetv Funding. The City Council hereby directs City
administration to apply $969,559, which is the amount of revenue projected to be
received from use of banked property tax capacity in the year 2005, exclusively to
hiring and maintaining salaries and benefits for public safety positions. This direction
applies in 2005 and in all subsequent years, unless amended by resolution of the Kent
City Council.
SECTION 3. -Severabilitv. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence,
clause or phrase of this resolution is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any
reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this
resolution.
SECTION 4. -Ratification. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to
the effective date of this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed.
SECTION 5.-Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect and be in force
immediately upon its passage.
PASSED at a regular open pu~eeting by the City Council of the City of
Kent, Washington. this /lf-tf,_ day oHlevetn~004.
3
-tA-ll./-day of
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AITEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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TOM BRUBAKER, CITY ATTORNEY
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I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Resolution No.
-r:Jo.-t:~ passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, the I '1-day of
Novwu~~ 2004.
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• BRENDA JACOBE CITY CLERK
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