Council delays property tax decision

The Spokane Valley City Council will decide next week whether it will put a property tax increase on the Sept. 14 ballot.

The city’s staff had recommended the council make a decision Tuesday night to more comfortably meet a July 23 deadline for filing ballot measures, but the council said it wanted to give the public more time to comment.

The measure would ask whether citizens agree to pay an extra 21 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for six years. The funds raised would pay for the repavement of streets when sewer lines are installed to replace septic tanks.

If voters approve, the increase would bring citizens’ taxes back to the level they paid before the city incorporated. That upset some meeting attendees, who said they voted for the city because they were told they’d get the same services and pay lower taxes.

“We gave you a good template and I expect you to follow it,” said Annette Remshard, who volunteered with the incorporation effort.

Council members stressed that voters – not the council – would decide whether to OK the levy.