Have you looked at your property tax bill lately? The city has put forward Prop 1 (safety) and Prop 2 (parks), which will add a total of $174.50/year or $14.50/month to the median homeowner’s tax bill. The levies focus on new sidewalks, fixing potholes, fighting the “recent increase” in property crime and renovating four neighborhood parks. Currently, the city tax on a $474,000 assessed home is $705.55 or 15 percent of the total tax bill of $4,736. If the propositions were approved, the city property tax would increase by approximately 25 percent. Personally, I don’t see a significant rise in property crime in my neighborhood or deteriorating parks and roads that would justify such a large increase in my tax bill.

Keep in mind, property values have increased significantly this last year so local governments have a revenue cushion. The assessed value of an 1,800 square-foot home on Education Hill increased by 12 percent between 2013 and 2014 ($418,000 to $474,000). Assessed values will likely increase again in 2015. The incremental tax dollars brought into the city by rising property values should be cushion enough to pay for the administration’s needs. Keep in mind voters may also have to budget for a Lake Washington School District bond that could be forthcoming in 2016. We have to draw the line somewhere on where our tax dollars will be spent. Redmond is becoming a very expensive place to live for the average working family and those on fixed incomes. I will be voting “NO” on the city’s propositions 1 and 2. The city appears to be humming along just fine.

Bob Yoder,
Redmond