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• <br /> EVERETT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET 1 <br /> PROJECT TITLE: <br /> AN ORDINANCE Relating to Briefing COUNCIL BILL# C O 7 <br /> Regular Property Taxes;Providing Proposed Action Originating Department Finance <br /> for the Submission to the Qualified Consent Contact Person Susy Haugen <br /> Electors of the City a Special Action Phone Number 425-257-8612 <br /> Election to be Held in Conjunction X First Reading FOR AGENDA OF July 11,July 18 <br /> with the State General Election on <br /> November 6,2018, of a X Second Reading <br /> Proposition Authorizing the City to Third Reading <br /> Levy Regular Emergency Medical Public Hearing <br /> Services Property Taxes In Excess Budget Advisory Initialed by: <br /> of the Limitations of Chapter 84.55 Department Head <br /> RCW for Emergency Medical Administration <br /> Services; Setting Forth the Text of Council President <br /> the Ballot Proposition,Directing the <br /> Proper City Officials to Take <br /> Necessary Actions; and Providing <br /> For Other Related Matters . <br /> Location Preceding Action Attachments Department(s) Approval <br /> Legal <br /> Amount Budgeted -0- <br /> Expenditure Required -0- Account Number(s): <br /> Budget Remaining -0- <br /> Additional Required -0- <br /> DETAILED SUMMARY STATEMENT: The Emergency Medical Services (EMS)property tax levy is <br /> the primary source of funding for Everett's EMS program. State law limits the rate of property tax revenue <br /> growth to 1%per year. Over the past eight years, labor costs associated with providing EMS services have <br /> grown at an average rate greater than 3%per year. Because revenue growth has not kept pace with the cost <br /> of providing EMS services,the City has been required to subsidize the EMS program from the General Fund <br /> in order to maintain this essential public service. <br /> The City of Everett last went to voters to request an EMS levy lid lift in 2010,which restored the levy rate to <br /> 50 cents per$1,000 of assessed value. Due to the 1%limit on property tax growth, the levy rate has dropped <br /> from 50 cents in 2011 to 40.17 cents for 2018 taxes. Restoring the rate back to 50 cents is estimated to <br /> generate approximately$1.6 million in additional funding for EMS Services,which should allow the City to <br /> maintain existing service levels for emergency medical care and services, including paramedic services, <br /> without the need for additional subsidy from the General Fund for the next few years. The impact of the lid <br /> lift on an average Everett home valued at$350,000 is estimated to be$34.40 per year. <br /> RECOMMENDATION:Approve an Ordinance relating to regular property taxes;providing for the <br /> submission to the qualified electors of the City a special election to be held in conjunction with the state <br /> general election on November 6,2018, of a proposition authorizing the City to levy regular emergency <br /> medical services property taxes in excess of the limitations of Chapter 84.55 RCW for emergency medical <br /> services; setting forth the text of the ballot proposition, directing the proper City officials to take necessary <br /> actions; and providing for other related matters. <br /> 1 <br />