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Ballot question

City of Lynden Proposition 2026-05: property tax levy lid lift (to $1.54304 per $1,000)

On the ballot in
City of Lynden
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

The City Council of the City of Lynden adopted Resolution No. 26-1148 concerning a levy lid lift to fund public safety and essential community services. This proposition would fund public safety (police and fire), and essential community services (including park and street maintenance, restoring eliminated staff positions, reopening City Hall to the public on Fridays, and offsetting lost funding for the Lynden Community/Senior Center) by authorizing a maximum 2026 property tax levy, for collection in 2027, at $1.54304 per $1,000 of assessed value; authorizing annual increases of 3% for 2027-2035; and using the 2035 levy to calculate future levy limits. Should this Proposition be:

A “Yes” vote means

Lynden could levy up to $1.54304 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2026 (for 2027), $0.50 above the 2025 rate, rising up to 3% a year through 2035, for public safety and services.

A “No” vote means

Lynden's regular property tax levy would stay under the usual limit of 1% annual revenue growth.

Official plain English statement

Proposition 2026-05 would authorize the City of Lynden to increase its regular property tax levy above the limit otherwise imposed by RCW 84.55.010. The City's costs for police and fire protection, street maintenance, park maintenance, and other essential municipal services have increased significantly due to inflation and rising personnel, equipment, and operating expenses, while the City's regular property tax revenues only increase by 1% annually. Without additional funding, the City will simply be unable to avoid further cuts to service levels. If approved by the voters, levy lid lift revenues would be used to fund (1) public safety (police and fire), (2) maintenance of city streets and parks, (3) the Lynden Community/Senior Center, (4) restoring staff positions cut during 2025 and 2026, and (5) reopening City Hall to the public on Fridays. This proposition would authorize the City to levy property taxes in 2026 (for collection in 2027) at a maximum rate of $1.54304/$1,000, an increase of $0.50/$1,000 over the 2025 levy rate. A limit factor of 100% plus 3% would be used to adjust levies in 2027 through 2035. The 2035 levy amount would be used as the basis to calculate subsequent levy limits.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.