Not an official copy.

Redmond, WA
Resolution No. 1100

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDMOND, WASHINGTON, TAKING A POSITION OF OPPOSITION TO I-695 TAX LIMITATION AND MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAX INITIATIVE.

WHEREAS, the passage of Initiative 695 will result in an estimated revenue loss of $1.3 million annually to the City of Redmond's budget, thereby impacting local City services and transportation capital projects; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Redmond has recognized other regional transportation impacts resulting from passage of the initiative, such as increased traffic congestion due to the loss of funding for transit and for road and street improvements through previously adopted State Referendum 49; and

WHEREAS, the City Council has also expressed concern regarding other regional service impacts due to the loss of criminal justice, public safety, and public health services funding; and

WHEREAS, the City may be required to use its diminished resources to pay for or contribute to mitigating these regional service impacts, thereby exacerbating the impacts to local services; and

WHEREAS, the initiative's requirement for voter approval of any tax or fee increase undermines the representative form of government and will hamper the City's flexibility to respond to emerging service needs; and

WHEREAS, this requirement will also preclude the City Council from setting specific fees and charges to recover costs, thereby requiring the General Fund to subsidize those services which otherwise would be funded directly by those who benefit from the services or cause impacts in the City; and

WHEREAS, the requirement for voter approval of any tax or fee increase will also result in long-term impacts such as increased administrative, legal, and election costs, and higher borrowing rates due to increased risk; and

WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully considered the local and regional implications and known impacts of I-695 and believes the initiative to be contrary to the best interests of the City of Redmond and the services and programs provided to its residents and business community; and

WHEREAS, the City has given due public notice regarding consideration of a position on the initiative including the number and title of the proposition, and has allowed equal time for expression of opposing views; and

WHEREAS, the City Council urges the State legislature to address the tax reform issues raised by the voters through other means in the upcoming legislative session.

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDMOND, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The City Council of the City of Redmond takes an official position in opposition to I-695 Tax Limitation and Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Initiative.

RESOLVED this 5th day of October, 1999.

CITY OF REDMOND

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ROSEMARIE IVES, MAYOR

ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:

_________________________________

BONNIE MATTSON, CITY CLERK

FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK:

PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL:

RESOLUTION NO.