On the agenda for Monday night’s (Nov. 28) Burien City Council meeting (download the PDF packet here) is a second public hearing on revenue sources and expenditures for the 2011-12 mid-biennial budget, as well as transportation improvement, the comprehensive plan, SMP, re-visiting the King County Library System’s proposed consolidation of two libraries in White Center and much more.

The city will also introduce its new Economic Development Manager, Dan Trimble.

The meeting, which is free and open to the public, starts at 7 p.m. Monday night, Nov. 28th at the Burien City Hall at 400 SW 152nd Street.

Comments from the public are allowed so if you have thoughts on any of the city’s business, this would be the time and place to speak up.

Here’s the city’s public notice about the hearing:

The City of Burien will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 28, 2011, at approximately 7 p.m. for the purpose of: Receiving the publics’ comments on the 2011-2012 Mid-Biennial Budget review and amendments.

Here’s an abridged agenda (we left out some “typical” business items) – you can download the packet for Monday here (PDF file)

• Second Public Hearing on Revenue Sources and Expenditures for 2011-2012 Mid-Biennial Budget Review and Update.
• Presentation on Online Permitting.
• Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 325, Approving the 2012 through 2017 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program.
• Adopting the 2012 Property Tax Levy.
• Follow-Up to Council Questions Regarding 2011-12 Mid-Biennial Budget Modifications.
• Adoption of Ordinance No. 558, Amending the 2011-2012 Biennial Budget.
• Discussion Regarding 2011 Comprehensive Plan Text and Map Amendments.
• Discussion Regarding Forming a Working Group for the Burien Shoreline Master Program.
• Letter to the King County Library System Board of Trustees.
• Review of Council Proposed Agenda Schedule.
• City Business.

For more information, visit the Burien City Council website here.

by Ralph Nichols

Burien lawmakers are poised to approve adjustments to the city’s 2012 budget on Nov. 28, following a second public hearing on next year’s spending plan and property tax levy.

The first public hearing was held at the city council’s Monday night meeting (Nov. 14), at which Burien Finance Director Kim Krause told them there will be no property tax increase in Burien next year.

In fact, a statutory limit on what the city can collect in 2012 will result in a decrease of approximately $467,000 in property tax revenues compared to the current year.

“For the first time in many years, the city will receive less property tax next year than this year,” noted City Manager Mike Martin.

Krause said this will result in a small property tax reduction in Burien, but she could not specify at this time how much it will be.

City council members adopted a 2011-12 biennial budget last year, which included general fund spending of 20,362,411 this year and $20,375,199 next year.

The budget revisions will increase projected 2012 spending by $436,963.

State law requires local governments to adopt their budgets for the following year by Dec. 31.

In addition, Krause presented a proposed policy change to reallocate 90 percent of property tax revenues to the general fund and 10 percent to the Capital Projects Reserve Fund.

The current policy, adopted by the council in 2004, allocates 80 percent of property taxes to the general fund and 20 percent to the Capital Projects Reserve Fund.

Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak expressed concern about shifting an additional 10 percent of property tax revenues to the general fund.

That prompted Councilman Gordon Shaw to “wonder if Councilwoman Krakowiak is asking for a tax increase,” since that allocation is designed to maintain a balanced budget without increased revenue.

Krause said general fund expenditure amendments for 2011 and 2012 total $889,263. These are:

• Reduced salaries and benefits, $211,287.
• Increased red light camera professional services, $428,000.
• Increased SCORE Jail startup expenses, $216,750.
• Increased King County District Court costs, $356,000.
• Increased litigation attorneys’ fees, $125,000.
• Miscellaneous expenses for annexation, $100,000.
• Increased miscellaneous services (voter registration, city newsletter, utilities, city memberships), $74,000.
• Decreased King County Sheriff’s police services contract, $200,000.

General fund revenue amendments include:

• Increased sales tax revenues to reflect 2011 activity, $84,343.
• Decreased utility tax revenues to reflect actual receipts, $997,140.
• Increased permit revenues to reflect 2011 activity, $500,000.
• Increased liquor tax and profits to reflect 2011 activity, $180,000.
• Decreased Seattle City Light revenues to reflect actual results, $300,000.

Total general fund revenue adjustments reflect a decrease of $335,292.

Krause earlier told The B-Town Blog that while Initiative 747 allows local governments annual property tax increases of 1 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less, “the city has received notification from the King County Assessor’s Office that the preliminary assessed valuation [of property in Burien] is 9.23 percent lower than 2011.

“Due to this reduction, the city can only collect the statutory limit of $1.60 [per $1,000 of assessed value], which is approximately $467,000 less than 2011,” Martin said. “As the values of homes go down, people pay less property taxes,” Martin said.

by Ralph Nichols

There will be no property tax increase in Burien in 2012.

The city earlier posted notice of a public hearing at tonight’s (Monday, Nov. 14) council meeting, soliciting comment on a possible property tax increase of up to 1 percent (read our previous coverage here, including a Poll and numerous Comments).

By law, the council must also review the city’s budget midway through the biennium to address any budgetary items that require adjustment.

A public hearing must be held before adoption of a new budget or budget adjustments, including the next year’s property tax.

The council establishes the city’s property tax levy annually, as required by state law, according to Burien Finance Director Kim Krause.

Local governments are limited by Initiative 747 to annual property tax increases of 1 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

I-747 was approved by voters statewide in 2001, then reinstated by the Legislature after the law was invalidated on a 5-4 decision by the State Supreme Court.

“This year’s inflation rate was 2.755 percent,” Krause noted. “Therefore, the city is limited to a 1 percent property tax increase, which is approximately $71,135.”

But, she continued, “the city has received notification from the King County Assessor’s Office that the preliminary assessed valuation [of property in Burien] is 9.23 percent lower than 2011.

“Due to this reduction, the city can only collect the statutory limit of $1.60 [per $1,000 of assessed value], which is approximately $467,000 less than 2011. Ordinance 557 adopts the Property Tax Levy.”

“As the values of homes go down, people pay less property taxes,” City Manager Mike Martin said. “As a result, the city will get about half a million dollars in revenue next year.”

Property values and mill rates – a unit of measure used in calculating property taxes – are like a teeter totter, he continued.

When values go up the mill rate goes down, and when values to down, the mill rate goes up. This year, that formula puts the city at the $1.60 per $1,000 cap.

“We can’t tax above that,” Martin said.

In 2010, the city “did have the ability to increase our property tax by 1 percent, but the council chose not to do it. The council felt that because the recession was hard on everybody, they should do something symbolic that recognized times were tough for everyone.”

Martin said for a house valued at $335,000 – the average value of a home in Burien – a 1 percent property tax increase would be 38 cents a month, or $4.56 annually.

Compared to what a 1 percent property tax increase would cost Burien homeowners, Highline School District voters renewed and increased in February a six-year operation and maintenance levy, which costs about $150 a month for an average home.

On Monday night, Nov. 14th, the Burien City Council will be holding a public hearing for ‘the purpose of receiving the publics’ comments on revenue sources, including a possible up to a 1% increase in property tax revenue, and expenditures for the 2011-2012 Mid-Biennial Budget review and amendments.’

As we do from time to time, we like to take the pulse of our Readers, and that’s why we’re asking you to participate in our poll. Please note that this survey is not scientific, and has nothing to do with the city. If you really want to share your opinion, you should attend Monday’s hearing, which begins at 7 p.m. at Burien City Hall, located at 400 SW 152nd Street.

Copies of the 2011-2012 Mid-Biennial Budget Review are available and can be obtained by calling the city’s Finance Department at (206) 439-3150.

More info on the hearing can be found in a PDF document from the city, which can be downloaded here.

Please take our poll below and also let us know your thoughts in Comments (thanks to Commenter Coverofnight for the suggestion!):

The bad news is that Monday (April 18th) is Tax Day, and despite being three days later than usual, it may still be a stressful day for last-second filers who have to run around, retrieve forms, sign and then mail them in time.

The good news is that the Riverton Station Post Office (located at 15250 32nd Ave. South in SeaTac) will be accepting tax forms until midnight.

As we’ve previously reported, the Riverton Post Office cut back its hours recently (the retail office closes at 6pm), so this will serve as a relief to many. Customers may get dated postage at the Automated Postal Center (APC) 24 hours a day inside the Station.

Mail can also be dropped off at collection boxes at the Tacoma Mail Processing Center (4001 S. Pine St.) and the Everett Mail Processing Facility (8120 Hardeson Rd.) at midnight to ensure getting an April 18 postmark on federal tax returns.

Here are some tax mailing tips:

• Make sure your tax return has sufficient postage. First-Class postage is 44-cents for the first ounce and 20-cents for each additional ounce. If you are mailing a number of supplementary forms and schedules with your return, the envelope is likely to weigh more than one ounce.
• The IRS will not pay postage due. Mail with insufficient postage is returned to sender. If you are in doubt about how much postage to apply, use a lobby scale, the scale on an APC (Automated Postal Center) or ask a postal clerk for assistance.
• If possible, mail your return using the pre-addressed envelope provided by the IRS. If you must prepare another envelope, make sure the address is legible and include your return address.
• When mailing your return at a post office not on the list for late pickup, check the times posted on the blue collection box to determine the last scheduled pickup time.
• Remember, postage can be purchased at any Automated Postal Center (APC). Check usps.com for a location near you.

The City of Burien announced Monday (March 21) that it will be holding a public meeting at 7pm on Monday, April 4th, to discuss proposed street and drainage improvements to SW 116th Place (see map below).

Total cost of these proposed improvements is estimated to be $68,000, with the costs to be paid for by “the properties specially benefited by the improvements,” according to the city’s announcement.

Here’s the full announcement:

CITY OF BURIEN, WASHINGTON

LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 3

NOTICE OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT AND HEARING THEREON

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the City of Burien, Washington (the “City”), pursuant to Resolution No. 319, adopted February 28, 2011, declared its intention to initiate the formation of Local Improvement District No. 3 to construct standard street and drainage improvements on SW 116th Place beginning approximately 250’ West of centerline 30th Ave SW, and to assess the cost and expense of those improvements against the property in that district specially benefited thereby.

The total cost of the proposed improvements is estimated to be $68,000 and shall be borne by and assessed against the properties specially benefited by the improvements to be included within the proposed Local Improvement District to be established embracing as nearly as practicable all property specially benefited by the improvements.

The public hearing upon the proposed improvements will be held before the City Council of the City in the Council Chambers in the City Hall in Burien, Washington, at 7:00 p.m., local time on Monday, April 4, 2011.

All persons desiring to speak for or against the proposed improvements and formation of the Local Improvement District are notified to appear and present those objections at that hearing.

UPDATE WED. 2/9/11 5pm: King County Elections released the second round of results on Tuesday’s election, and the Highline School District Levy is looking like it will definitely pass with 59.86% 60.72% in the “Yes” column out of nearly 32% of ballots counted.

The proposition requires 50% approval to pass.

Here are the details from the county’s website:

HIGHLINE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 401

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: *17,892 / 56,549 • 31.64%

Proposition No. 1 Replacement of Expiring Educational Programs and Operation Levy

• YES: 10,855 • 60.72%
• NO: 7,022 • 39.28%

* Reflects the voter registration count as of January 28, 2011 following the official logic and accuracy test.

“We are grateful to Highline voters for this show of support,” said Highline Superintendent John Welch. “This shows how much our community values the education of our children. Even in these tough times, people are willing to invest in education and support our local schools.”

The levy makes up about 25 percent of the funding for operating schools. Most of the levy dollars pay for teachers and staff positions. The levy also pays for basics such as bus transportation, building maintenance, and textbooks. These costs are not fully funded by the state.

PREVIOUSLY:

HIGHLINE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 401

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters: *16,300 / 56,549 • 28.82%

Proposition No. 1 Replacement of Expiring Educational Programs and Operation Levy

• YES: 9,750 • 59.86%
• NO: 6,537 • 40.14%

* Reflects the voter registration count as of January 28, 2011 following the official logic and accuracy test.

The next round of returns will be released Wednesday afternoon at 4:30pm, so check back then for an update.

by Ralph Nichols

As Burien City Council members prepare to resume work on the 2011-12 general fund budget on Monday, Oct. 25, there is good news for local property taxpayers.

The property tax on a $300,000 home will drop slightly, from $456 to $444 for a $12 reduction, in 2011 for residents already living in Burien before annexation, interim Finance Director Gary Coleman has projected.

For residents of North Burien, who were annexed into the city on April 1, it’s even better. Their property taxes will be $93 less for a $300,000 home than what they were paying King County.

This is due to the increase in assessed value city wide as a result of the additional residential property that annexation added to Burien, Coleman told council members on Oct. 11.

The city’s total preliminary budget is $73.9 million for the biennium, including a $40.1 million general fund budget, with a 2.2 percent average increase in total revenue between 2011 and 2012.

Local law enforcement, with Burien police services provided through a contract with the King County Sheriff’s Office, jail and court expenses account for $21,548,400, or 54 percent, of the general budget.

City Manager Mike Martin asked the council to approve a 1% pay raise for city employees.

Additional projected general fund expenditures include:

• General government operations – $8,957,512 or 22 percent.
• Parks and recreation programs – $5,532,211, or 14 percent.
• Community Development – $2,942,261, or 7 percent.
• Public Works – $1,123,986, or 3 percent.

Anticipated general fund revenues for 2011-12 include:

• Sales tax – $11,841,391, or 29 percent.
• Property tax – $11,693,000, or 28 percent.
• Utility tax – $7,234,699, or 17 percent.
• Gambling tax – $1,150,000, or 3 percent.
• Business (B&O) tax – $1.112,092, or 3 percent.

Remaining sources of the $41.1 million in anticipated general fund revenue include planning and permitting fees, state-shared money, parks and recreation fees and charges, and miscellaneous revenues.

City Manager Mike Martin recommended that council members use the slight revenue surplus to give employees a 1 percent cost-of-living allowance in 2011. They have not received an increase in two years.

He also recommended adding two maintenance workers in Street and Surface Water Management, a senior planner, and a temporary management analyst.

The cost of all positions would be offset through contract savings and a grant.

Preliminary city funding for 21 human service organizations and programs is set at $200,000 – a $30,000 increase from this year.

by Ralph Nichols

Tucci & Sons Inc. of Tacoma is the apparent low-bidder to provide 38,000 tons of asphalt for the initial phase of Burien’s 20-year asphalt overlay project, which is expected to begin in September.

Doug Lamothe, the capital projects manager for the city’s Public Works Department, said Tucci & Sons’ base bid was $5,721,582. Bids were requested for six project add-ons as well in case there is enough money to do the additional work.

“Right now we’re trying to determine how to piece in the add-ons with the money available,” Lamothe said. “The bids were extremely favorable so there’s a good chance that by the time we put all our numbers together we will be able to do most of the additional work as well in 2011.”

The city will have approximately $8.7 million from bonds it is issuing to pay for the first phase of the asphalt overlay project, which will be done during the remainder of this year’s construction season and throughout the construction season next year.

“At the rate we’re going, we’re hoping to have the contract awarded and a pre-construction conference by Sept. 1,” he continued. “Our first initial push is to make improvements on Ambaum Blvd.,” with road work starting later in the month.

“That is what we will probably see done this year before weather curtails construction activity. Generally speaking, the weather curtails asphalt work around Nov. 1, unless we get a stretch of warm weather, until early April.”

In addition to Ambaum Blvd. between SW 112th and SW 156th streets, the phase one base bid includes asphalt overlays on 4th Ave. SW between SW 154th and 156th streets, S/SW 128th St. between Des Moines Memorial Drive and Ambaum, and SW 148th St. between Ambaum and 4th Ave. SW.

Except for Ambaum, this work will be done in 2011.

Lamothe said the city is “extremely pleased with the bidding climate and the results of our project advertising and design, and we‘re looking forward to really making some improvements to the streets of Burien that are most in need of overlays.”

The 20-year asphalt overlay program, with a $19.4 million price tag, will put 2-inch asphalt overlays on more than 260 lane miles to restore and maintain city streets at an average Pavement Condition Index level of 80 percent. The current average condition of local streets is 68 percent.

A $10 vehicle license tab fee will generate $300,000 for the ongoing project beyond 2011, with savings the city will realize by doing in-house some programs previously done by King County providing the rest of the money annually.

On Monday (July 19), the King County Council announced that it had approved placing a proposal on the November ballot to increase the sales and use tax in King County, with revenue going predominately to public safety services.

According to a release, if approved by voters on Nov. 2nd the increase would generate around $59 million in revenue for King County in 2011 and $80 million in 2012, the first full year the levy would be collected. Under the proposal, the County’s portion of the proceeds would be used solely for public safety programs ranging from the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office to Public Defense and Jail Health Services.

In addition, 40 percent of the tax proceeds would go to the 39 cities within King County based on their population. This would mean that approximately $24 million would go to city governments with the County. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.

The sales tax increase would remain in effect for a maximum of three years.

Along with an increase in the sales tax, the measure would use a portion of the County’s unincorporated area levy—$9.5 million in 2011—to fund police services in the County’s unincorporated communities.

The adopted ordinance now goes to the voters on Nov. 2nd as part of the general election ballot.

Here’s the full press release:

County Council places sales tax ballot measure on November ballot

Proposal to raise $80 million in revenue sent to general election ballot

Facing a projected $60 million budget deficit, the Metropolitan King County Council today approved sending to the voters in November a proposal to raise the sales and use tax in King County by two-tenths of one percent. The revenue raised by the ballot measure would go predominately to public safety services.

“It’s important to remember that the Council did not raise taxes today,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson, Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “We’re giving voters the chance to tell us if they support public safety services provided by King County and every other city in the County.”

“Keeping the public safe is an essential County function,” said Council Chair Bob Ferguson. “Voters deserve the opportunity to decide whether critical criminal justice services should be preserved.”

“A sales tax increase is absolutely necessary to save vital services such as sheriffs, prosecutors and programs that serve to lower our jail costs,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett. “What is at stake is the quality of life that we treasure so much in our county.  This is the reason we are asking King County voters to support this crucial measure at the polls this November.”

“With public safety being the paramount concern of people in King County, voters must have a chance to weigh in about whether to cut $60 million in criminal justice services or preserve them with temporary higher taxes,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “Knowing the difficult choice this will be for voters struggling through this Great Recession, I worked to lower the tax burden and add accountability to the proposal by including a three-year sunset provision.”

“The Council’s decision today is all about giving voters a choice,” said Councilmember Jan Drago. “Cutting $60 million from the budget will touch every part of county government, and that’s just too big a number and too big of a decision to make without the public’s input. We need to know what people are willing to pay for or willing to give up in these tough economic times.”

If approved by voters, the increase would generate approximately $59 million in revenue for King County in 2011 and $80 million in 2012, the first full year the levy would be collected. Under the proposal, the County’s portion of the proceeds would be used solely for public safety programs ranging from the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s Office to Public Defense and Jail Health Services.

In addition, 40 percent of the tax proceeds would go to the 39 cities within King County based on their population. This would mean that approximately $24 million would go to city governments with the County. State law requires that cities must spend one-third of the proceeds on criminal justice services.

The sales tax increase would remain in effect for a maximum of three years.

Along with an increase in the sales tax, the measure would use a portion of the County’s unincorporated area levy—$9.5 million in 2011—to fund police services in the County’s unincorporated communities.

The adopted ordinance now goes to the voters on November 2 as part of the general election ballot.