City of Lake Forest Park Proposition 1: public safety levy lid lift

Official plain English statement

The City of Lake Forest Park proposes Proposition 1 to provide sustainable funding for Public Safety Services including: police staffing, training, and safety equipment; 911 dispatch services; jail services; prosecution and public defense costs; and crisis intervention and mental health response programs. Proposition 1 would temporarily authorize an annual increase of approximately $1.2 million in the City's regular property tax levy through a levy lid lift. Without a voter approved levy lid lift, the City is limited to increasing its tax levy by 1%. The additional levy funds from Proposition 1 would be tracked separately and could only be used to pay for the cost of Public Safety Services. Proposition 1 would cost property owners $0.22 per $1,000 of assessed valuation ($22 per $100,000). In 2027, for a $963,000 median value home this would be about $211.86 annually or $17.66 per month. For each of the next five years (2028 – 2032), the levy lid lift could be increased by the rate of inflation, which requires an open public process and a council vote to approve. Proposition 1 exempts qualifying seniors, disabled veterans and others with disabilities from the levy increase. When Proposition 1 expires, the levy will decrease to what it would have been if never approved and the City had only taken the 1% increase authorized by state law. For questions about this measure, contact: Phillip Hill, City Administrator, (206) 368-5440, [email protected]