Guest Post: An Alternate View of LWFR Levy by David Stoller
I support and appreciate all the good things that the volunteers and professionals of LWFR do for our community. They provide essential services for all of us.
I was curious about the levy and was surprised to find that this “renewal” levy, as described, was an 80% increase in revenue from the last levy. I cannot find published plans of how this LARGE increase in funds will be spent. Until I can understand this, I cannot support this levy.
The key to understanding this is the “assessed value” concept. Each of our taxable properties are assessed yearly by the county assessor’s office. The 2020 levy was based on the assessment in 2020. In 2023 our properties assessments value increased but the levy rules state that revenues cannot increase more than 1% per year. The money given to LWFR from our taxes has remained unchanged during the term of the last levy.
Imagine that I am going to buy a little red ball for $1.00. This red ball is taxed at 10% or $0.10 per $1. I will pay $1.10. Now next year, I go to buy the same red ball but the price is now $1.30. The rules for taxing this red ball are such that I cannot be taxed more than the original $0.10. So now I am being taxed $0.10 per $1.30 or 7.7%. I pay $1.40 but the tax rate has gone down from 10% to 7.7%. The taxing agency has received the same amount of money on each purchase.
This is exactly what happened with the LWFR levy of 2020. All of our properties increased in value but the money collected by LWFR did not change. Just like in the ball example, the rate of taxation based on our properties’ assessed value went down but the money flowing to LWFR stayed essentially the same.
So what does this mean for the levy:
- Total assessed value of all taxable property in the LWFR district 2020: $1,277,301,778.00 (yes that’s BILLIONS)
- 2020 levy at $0.82 per $1000 assessed valuation is: $1,047,386 per year (millions) revenue to LWFR.
- Total assessed value of property in the LWFR district 2023: $1,990,256,485 (billions)
- 2024 levy at $0.95 per $1000 assessed valuation is: $1,890,743 per year (millions) revenue to LWFR.
- Proposed Increase in revenue to LWFR 2020-2024: 80.5%
I am hoping that your eyes have not glazed over too much and that this will be helpful as you look at your ballot and try to understand the LWFR levy. This and more information should have been provided to us in order for us to cast an informed vote!
LWFR is asking for our consent for a staggering 80% increase in taxes since the last levy. Maybe they need and deserve this increase in revenue. I have looked at the fire commissioners’ website but could not find plans that explain how this money will be spent. I know that the volunteers and professionals of LWFR do a lot of good things for our community but asking for an 80% increase in taxes and thereby expenditures without an explanation makes no sense to me.
If there is a clear plan and explanation I would certainly consider supporting an increase in taxes and expenditures. If this levy fails, LWFR can resubmit a new levy for our consideration. I look forward to supporting a levy where I can see how the increased funds will be spent.
David Stoller
Lake Wenatchee Info will occasionally publish guest posts on matters of interest to the Lake Wenatchee Community. To inquire about a guest post, email admin@lakewentacheeinfo.com. Opinions on guest posts are those of the author.