Taxes and Fees

The city collects taxes and fees to pay for the costs of running the city. The best way to keep taxes and fees at a reasonable level is to make sure the city government is spending your tax dollars wisely. This all seems pretty basic.

Last year when the mayor was creating the budget I am told that she did not ask department directors to reduce spending. Instead, she only asked, “How much do you need?” Since there was no attempt to control spending, the only way the mayor could balance the budget was to increase taxes and fees. The result was a 52% increase in city property taxes and a plan to increase red light camera tickets by 100%.

On the night the city council was scheduled to vote on the budget I asked my fellow councilmembers to cut the budget’s proposed spending by 1.5%. The majority of the council rejected my proposal. Honestly this was a last-ditch effort. An across-the-board cut is not the best way to control costs, but the current mayor’s proposed spending budget did not offer any other alternative.

As your mayor, I will make it a priority to control spending. I will ask department directors to review programs and cut what is not working. And I want every city employee to be empowered to bring forward any suggestions that will increase efficiency and eliminate unnecessary spending. The current mayor is not encouraging this type of open and transparent discussion.

Reducing taxes and fees is such a political cliché. However, as your mayor, it will be a priority for me. The best way we can accomplish this is to increase efficiency and cut costs. I am ready to make it happen for the City of Lynnwood.