City Council Agenda: Council to Consider Tax Increase at Dec. 6 Meeting

The Sammamish City Council will consider two versions of a revised biennial budget at its meeting tomorrow night at 6:30 pm, one of which would raise property taxes for Sammamish residents by one percent, and the other which would leave the property tax levy as is.

With a one-percent increase, the property tax levy would rise to $2.58 per $1,000 in assessed value, up from $2.47 per $1,000 in assessed value.The city estimates that, accounting for a devaluation in assessed property value, the revised levy would raise about $200,000 in increased revenues for the city. With the increase, the city's budget would include $21.7 million in general fund revenue; without, it would include $21.5 million in general fund revenue.

The council will hold public hearings on the budget and proposed tax increase, as well as on removing the sunset clause included in the most recent update of the environmentally critical areas ordinance as the city continues to work on updating the regulations. It also will hear public input on a five-year pilot program to allow so-called cottage housing, which could include duplexes or a second dwelling within an existing home, outside of Sammamish Town Center, 

In other business, the council is expected to approve a contract with DA Hogan and Associates Inc. for architectural services for the Eastlake High School Phase II Baseball Field Renovation Project. The Parks Department's capital improvement budget for 2012 includes $1.9 million to design and construct a second multi-use field at the school, which will be shared by the city. The project is expected to be completed by late next fall.