Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Bellevue citizens consider tax increase?again


By JON DUVAL
Express Staff Writer

In a special election Tuesday, May 22, Bellevue voters will be asked to approve a tax levy increase to help fund improved city services.

If approved, the tax hike would put an extra $200,000 into Bellevue's $2.36 million budget. The annual cost to homeowners would be an additional $58.20 in taxes per $100,000 in property value.

"This isn't icing on the cake. This is something the city needs desperately," said Ken Allen, chair of the citizens advisory committee formed to research deficiencies in the level Bellevue's municipal services, during his presentation to the City Council at a meeting on March 29. "It's going directly back to the community."

Allen provided a detailed analysis of problems in the current levels of service, noting that voters would be more willing to accept the tax if they knew exactly where the money from their pockets was headed.

The committee's recommended spending includes:

· $92,060 for law enforcement.

· $48,600 for the Fire Department.

· $110,400 for the Street Department.

· $32,500 for the city library.

Out of the committee's total recommended $283,560 of funding, approximately $200,000 of that would come from the increased tax levy. The remaining $83,560 would be provided by annual tax growth appreciation and added franchise tax fees.

But what does this really mean for the average Bellevue homeowner in relation to his checkbook? On a monthly basis, the levy increase would be $4.85, which would bring a homeowner's total levy to $11.36 per month per $100,000 in property value.

Allen and the rest of the committee, none of whom had any previous in-depth knowledge of the issue, were surprised at what they found as they delved deeper into their research in preparation for their recommendation.

"Once we got into the numbers, we were flabbergasted at how underfunded Bellevue is," Allen said Thursday.

Underscoring all of this is the fact that Bellevue has the second lowest levy rate in the entire state. The committee saw this directly translating into the sub-standard levels of essential services.

However, the issue of a levy increase is nothing new to Bellevue.

In both 2004 and 2005, similar elections failed to gain the 60 percent approval necessary to pass the measure.

This year, city officials are optimistic that three will prove a magic number, their renewed optimism stemming from the support of the citizens advisory committee.

At the March 29 council meeting, committee members unanimously recommended the $200,000 levy increase.

As opposed to past years, council members believe support from this independent committee will help demonstrate to the public that this is not some obscure increase in taxes aimed at helping politicians.

"The most important part of this process is that it's coming from the soul of the community," said Bellevue Councilman Shaun Mahoney at the March meeting. "It's much more powerful."

Getting correct information about the levy to the public is also of utmost importance, said Councilman Chris Koch on May 10.

He believes the efforts of the committee to educate voters about their findings and recommendations will prevent a repeat of the 2005 election, in which a flyer attacking the levy and filled with misinformation was circulated the night before the polls opened, Koch said.

The committee and council members have been handing out informational brochures and making phone calls in support of the levy. They will make a last push at informing the public by holding a rally at Atkinsons' Market in Bellevue on Saturday, May 19, from 1 to 4 p.m.

"In past years, I just don't think people knew what they were voting for," said Bellevue resident Vicky Walker during the March meeting.

Still, not everyone is convinced the levy increase is necessary.

With recent talk of consolidating the Bellevue and Hailey fire departments, some members of the public wonder if it's the correct time to increase spending in this direction.

Former Bellevue Mayor Dennis Wright went further, noting that other communities, such as Eagle, have contracted out their law enforcement to the county sheriff's office as a means of reducing spending.

"As mayor for five years, I ran the city for much less," said Wright during an interview Tuesday, May 15. He added that while the population of the city has increased, so has the base.

In response to the deficiencies of the Street Department, Wright wondered if homeowners in the old plat could contribute to local improvements, helping repair the streets they front as has happened in newer developments.

Making your vote count

Date: Tuesday, May 22.

Time: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Location: Bellevue City Hall.

Where will the money go?

Additional funding from levy increase: $200,000

Street department: $79,000 (39.5%)

Law enforcement: $64,000 (32.0%)

Fire department: $34,000 (17.0%)

Library: $23,000 (11.5%)




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