Final Public Hearings for City Budget and Property Tax Levy Tonight

The third of three public hearings regarding the setting of the 2012 property tax levy, and the second of two public hearings regarding the 2012 preliminary city budget take place during tonight's meeting of the Enumclaw City Council.

At the last meeting on November 14, the Council opted for third public hearing on the topic of the property tax levy as there was no public comment on either the levy or the budget in general. (Read from that meeting.)

The property tax levy has been the subject of some heated exchanges between Councilman Mike Ennis and Mayor Liz Reynolds. Ennis has insisted strongly that the city keep its word on a property tax rollback of 89 cents per $1,000 assessed value for 2012, following last year's fire annexation; however the changing economic climate makes this rollback of about $912,000 in tax revenue for the city a difficult loss to absorb -- particularly for a short-staffed police department, according to city administration. ( from the last budget workshop.)

Mayor Liz Reynolds released her preliminary budget for 2012 last month and you can peruse it online here. This budget does reflect the entire 89 cents per $1,000 rollback, but as it is preliminary, Council still has influence to make adjustments as needed -- or requested -- for next year.

Do you have an opinion you want to share with Council? Come on down to City Hall tonight -- the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Click here to view the agenda.