City of Shoreline to ask voters for property tax increase
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
From the citizen committee "Support Shoreline"
In November's General Election, Shoreline voters will be asked to approve a measure to protect the City's public safety, parks and recreation operations and community services for youth, families and seniors.
As a result of Initiative 747, passed in 2001, property tax revenues have been limited to one percent growth per year while the inflation rate has averaged 2.7 percent annually. After ten years of working within the limits of this initiative, implementing numerous budget reductions and increasing efficiencies, the City is now finding it difficult to maintain essential services. As a result, the Shoreline City Council approved a resolution at its July 26 meeting to place a levy proposition on the November 2, 2010 ballot that would close the projected budget gap.
The levy would restore the City's property tax rate to $1.48 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2011, a $0.28 increase from the amount currently collected. This is a substantial decrease from the $1.60 per $1,000 collected in 2001. The $0.28 cent increase would last six years.
For the average $350K home in the City of Shoreline, the passage of this levy would cost approximately an additional $9 a month. The proceeds would be used to maintain public safety and emergency services, keep our parks and recreation centers clean and safe, and preserve our vital community services, all primary reasons that Seattle Magazine ranked Shoreline in 2005 and 2008 one of the best places to live in the greater Seattle area and Money magazine ranked it in 2010 as one of the top 100 places to live in the United States.
“I am willing to increase my own taxes to preserve our quality of life,” said Carolyn Hope, Chairperson of the Citizens to Support Shoreline, a neighborhood committee spearheading the ‘Taking Care of the Basics: Public Safety, Parks & Community Services.' “It's important to me that my son walk safely to a friend's house or participate in recreation programs for a reasonable cost, that children have access to after-school programs and that families can find the support they need in these difficult economic times.”
To learn more about Shoreline Proposition 1, visit the Support Shoreline website.
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6 comments:
Would this be classified as news or an editorial? This piece appears to be written and submitted by the City of Shoreline staff (who by the way have a strongly vested interest in passing a tax increase, mainly THEIR JOBS!!!!). Are you planning on posting any counter arguments to the increase?
I agree with the commentor above. I would like to see this news site assume a more neutral, traditionally journalistic voice. A lot of these articles read like paid ads or press releases.
While there are many stories posted in Shoreline Area news with which I disagree, I try to remind myself that this is a volunteer endeavor.
I'm unaware of anyone who's being paid to provide this service. (please correct me if I'm wrong)
I can chose to read or not read it at any time.
Keep up the good work Shoreline Area News...remember to take all comments with a grain of salt and know that you have my sincere thanks for your endless hours of effort even when I disagree with you.
I'm thankful for what you do.
Respectfully,
Sherry Edwards
Shoreline, WA
Dear Sherry,
Your letter of support for this website was clearly the result of confusion. Why did you feel the need to defend the website when neither of the posts were negative in any way? There's no need to shield this website from constructive feedback or in other words(shudder) constructive criticism. Yes, you are correct when you state that everyone has the right to self censor themselves. Now here's the important part, HOWEVER.... when the webpage is called the "Shoreline Area NEWS" there is an obvious expectation of objectivity!!! I have entirely different expectations if it's called the "Shoreline Area Events".
I too greatly appreciate the efforts of the people who spend their time on this wonderful public service and I read their work on a daily basis. Of course there is always the chance that the folks who "publish" this website might be thin skinned enough to quit when offered common feedback on their work. I prefer to think that they are proud enough of their efforts to welcome feedback. Thus I (and hopefully everyone) will civily offer it whenever it seems warranted.
The Shoreline Area News has quietly added one line that indicates this is an opinion piece from the Yes on Prop. One-Shoreline. This is not the first time that the Shoreline Area News has practiced biased, advocacy so-called journalism - it happened during the School District Bond/Levy Lift Effort, not until attention was called to it publicly did the editor of the Shoreline Area News disclose that they were a member of the Yes for Schools Levy Political Action Committee.
This was obviously from the "Pro" side. Let's get something from the "Con" side.
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