The Ocean Shores City Council on Jan. 12 approved a resolution for an April 28 ballot measure that requests a six-year general property tax increase to pay for emergency services beginning in 2016.
Rather than a levy lid lift, the proposal will need a 60 percent majority of at least 40 percent of the voters in the last general election to pass under a formula established by state law, RCW 84.52.069.
That clause allows voters of a city to levy up to an additional $.50 per thousand dollars of assessed property value each year for either six or 10 years, or permanently, for EMS services. The proposal for the 50-cent figure if passed by voters would be to “pay all or a portion of the costs of the city of Ocean Shores to provide emergency medical services and care,” said a resolution the council approved 5-2, with Ginny Hill and Jackie Farra voting against it.
Essentially, it would replace the current 50-cent levy now in place, said City Finance Director Steve Ensley, who noted passing the measure takes a higher threshold of approval than a yearly levy lid lift.
“It would behoove us to be all in as a city and a council that this is the right thing to do,” Ensley advised.
The funds may be used for related costs such as personnel, training, equipment, supplies, vehicles and structures “needed for the provision of emergency medical care or emergency medical services.”
The EMS proposal came from an earlier council study session looking at solutions for a projected revenue shortfall in 2015 caused by lower overall property tax assessments in the city.
Ensley had presented the council with a number of scenarios showing the impact of a drop in property values based on later-than-expected assessments from the Grays Harbor County Auditor’s Office. Ensley explained the drop in values caused the city to lower its projected property tax revenue in the already approved 2015 budget.
The city also faces limited options to increase revenue to make up the difference.
The city had been challenging a state Department of Revenue ruling that it can raise only $3.221 of assessed local property value in a cap on its revenue limit. But Mayor Crystal Dingler said the Department of Revenue ruled against the city, and Ensley told the council that an EMS levy would free up room under such a cap for future uses. He noted that EMS already costs the city $195,000 from the General Fund.
“I don’t want this levy, but unfortunately we’re going to have to take this levy,” said Councilman John Schroeder, adding he was beginning to understand why it was needed because of the city’s mill rate and cap restrictions.
Councilman Dan Overton also pointed to the dilemma in voting for the measure: “I don’t think anyone likes taxes, but it’s kind of like the rain: if we want the green, we got to have the rain. If we want EMS, we’ve got to have taxes.”
Ensley noted the approval of the new EMS measure would secure the 50-cent fee for the next six years so it would not be an ongoing issue each year. Currently, the city has only 15 cents capacity available under the property tax structure.
Hill said she continues to oppose the measure: “I don’t believe that putting more burden on taxpayers is a good thing, and what it will do is free up that money to let you tax something else.”
Resident Randy Peck cited figures that he said showed the city has “a choice between a revolver or a shotgun that you are going to swallow.”
He also pointed out an EMS regular levy would be more fairly applied to all property owners than an increase in ambulance utility fees.
“It’s time for us to realize that we may have to bite the bullet and do this one,” Peck added. “It’s just where we are with our valuations.”
Resident Lillian Broadbent agreed with Peck and noted the proposal does not “raise anybody’s taxes.”
“It’s going to be equal to what they pay today. I think we should move forward and get as many people as possible working on this levy today,” she said.
Councilmen Gordon Broadbent, Schroeder, Overton, John Lynn and Randy Scott all voted for the measure, which will now go to the Grays Harbor County Auditor’s Office for the spring election.
Old Fire Station
The city did come to terms for the sale of the old fire station at Point Brown Avenue and J.K. Lewis. Dingler said the sale close last week and the buyer will pay $58,000 for the building and property.
The old fire station was scrapped after the city opened the new one just south on Point Brown in 2010. The new fire station was paid for with $5.1 million in General Obligation Bonds issued in February 2008, a debt to be paid over 25 years.
Bridge update
The Overlake Bridge across a narrow portion of Duck Lake remains closed, and Dingler said the state Department of Transportation has been out to look at possible solutions. “They will give us an estimate on what the repairs will be,” she said. “We will then decided if we can do that our not or if we can find some money somewhere. It’s a pretty important bridge for a lot of people.”
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