HomeMy WebLinkAbout1957RESOLUTION NO. __ (_9_5_/ __
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the
City of Kent, Washington, endorsing Proposition A
on the April 24, 2018, special election ballot, which
authorizes a 2% increase, from 6% to 8%, of the
existing utility tax on the total gross income
derived from revenues of companies operating in
Kent that provide electricity, manufactured and
natural gas, telephone, and cable television
services, in order to fund additional staff and
equipment exclusively for police and criminal
justice services in the City of Kent, and urging
Kent's residents to vote "Yes" on that ballot
measure.
RECITALS
A. Kent has experienced dramatic growth in recent years. The
city now encompasses approximately thirty-five square miles in area, and
its population is the sixth largest in Washington State. With this growth has
come pressure on the city's general fund as it strives to continue to provide
all city services to this dramatically increased population and service area.
A number of factors have contributed to issues with continued funding of
these services, including a property tax limitation of one percent per year
which causes a continuing structural revenue shortfall because the one
percent cap generally runs one to two percent below the annual inflation
rate. Also, due to Washington's Streamlined Sales Tax legislation, the city,
1 Endorsing Prop. A
Resolution
according to the latest study, has incurred an annual loss of expected sales
tax revenue of approximately $12. 7 million per year.
B. Of all city services, police and criminal justice services are
primary to its citizens. The city has strived to maintain its level of delivery
for these services, but staffing levels are challenged as the city grapples
with its recent growth. Police officers are working overtime, and more
officers are needed to adequately address criminal justice demands. Adding
more than 20 commissioned police officers would significantly improve the
city's ability to deliver services critical to public safety. The city needs
these officers to maintain a level and quality of service that the public
needs and deserves.
C. Police officers are a significant part of the city's public safety
network, but adding additional officers will also impact service and staffing
levels in police support services, the city's municipal court, its municipal
jail, its prosecution division, and its public defender office. As a result, if
this additional funding becomes available, some part of that funding will
also be dedicated to these other critical branches of the city's police and
criminal justice network.
D. The Kent City Council finds that it is in the public interest and
is imperative to public health, safety and welfare to increase the number of
Kent police officers and fund services that support the addition of police
officers
E. As authorized by law, the city currently imposes a six percent
(6%) utility tax on the total gross income derived from revenues of
companies operating in Kent that provide electricity, manufactured and
natural gas, telephone, and cable television services. Under state law, the
2 Endorsing Prop. A
Resolution
voters in the city may vote on a proposition to raise the utility tax over that
six percent (6%) amount.
F. In order to maintain and improve its police and criminal
justice operations at a service level that the citizens of Kent deserve and
expect, the Kent City Council has determined to ask the voters to increase
the six percent (6%) utility tax by two percent (2%), resulting in a total
utility tax of eight percent (8%) on the total gross income derived from
revenues of companies operating in Kent that provide electricity,
manufactured and natural gas, telephone, and cable television services.
G. All funds derived from the two percent (2%) increase in utility
tax will be exclusively used to pay for the addition of police officers, as well
as to fund the impacts of additional police officers on police support
services, the city's municipal court, its municipal jail, its prosecution
division, and its public defender office. The funds derived from this
additional two percent (2%) utility tax will be segregated and dedicated
exclusively for public safety purposes and accounted for separately from
other city funds.
H. On February 6, 2018, the Kent City Council voted to submit
Proposition A to the City's voters for the April 24, 2018 special election.
Proposition A asks the voters to consider the approval of a 2% increase in
the utility tax for companies that provide electricity, natural and
manufactured gas, telephone, and cable television services.
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT,
WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
RESOLUTION
3 Endorsing Prop. A
Resolution
SECTION 1. -The city council strongly endorses Proposition A and
urges Kent voters to vote "Yes" on this measure which will provide funds
which are segregated from other city funds to be used exclusively for the
addition of more than 20 police officers, as well as to fund the impacts the
addition of police officers will have on city police support services, the
municipal court, the municipal jail, its prosecution division and its public
defender office.
SECTION 2. -Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect and
be in force immediately upon its passage.
PASSED at a regular open public meeting by the City Council of the
city of Kent, Washington, this ~ ~ day of f£0r1All~ , 2018.
·~
CONCURRED in by the Mayor of the City of Kent this lo day of --telJn.AllV U,, , 2018.
6
ATTEST:
~
"PAT" FITZPAT ICK, CITY ATTORNEY
4 Endorsing Prop. A
Resolution