The City of Redmond’s desire for a 23 percent increase in its property tax rate goes counter to its and the proponents’ claims about how well the city is being run. These proponents of the 23 percent increase laud the city for its fiscal stewardship and its efficiency in providing city services. If city government is so well-run, why should it need such a huge increase in the tax rate? And this is in addition to the statutorily allowed compounded rate that has been levied consistently and regularly throughout the budget cycles. Also the city has an increase in its projected revenue stream of more than 10 percent over the previous budget. This revenue coming into the city should be sufficient to provide necessary services for a government that is being touted as well-run and financially responsible.

Nor should residents be misled by the phantom costs alluded to by the proponents of the tax increase to homeowners. The actual increase in property tax will depend on the individual homeowner’s assessed value, not the imaginary figure cited by the advocates for a tax increase. For example, the median home value cited by Zillow.com is $593,600. At that value, the tax increase will be $207.76 and not the $174.50 cited by the proponents for the 23 percent increase.

A NO vote on these two property tax increases is a vote for a government that is responsible to its citizens, and against the megalomaniacal desires of politicians.

Richard Grubb

Redmond