PORT TOWNSEND — Hearing no opposition, the City Council unanimously approved a 1 percent property tax increase to raise revenues for its proposed $31.6 million 2005 budget.
Washington state law allows municipalities a maximum 1 percent property tax increase without a public vote.
All seven council members voted for the property tax levy to help balance the budget.
City officials in September warned of a $750,000 projected budget deficit. A 53 percent property tax levy increase proposed by the council overwhelmingly was rejected by voters in the Nov. 2 general election.
This time, while voting for a much smaller tax increase, city leaders heard no opposition.
“Listening to people’s comments over the past several weeks’ discussion, I did not think it would be difficult to pass,” Councilwoman Freida Fenn said during the Monday night meeting at Fort Worden State Park’s Building 204.
“I think that every councilor saw a necessity to at least partially catch up with the cost of living increase.”
Smallest tax increase
Given the circumstances, that was the smallest tax increase the council could approve, said City Manager David Timmons, who expected the Nov. 2 levy to pass.
