City Council stands behind Public Safety levy bid

Members of the Anacortes City Council voted unanimously this week to endorse an April ballot proposition asking voters to approve a property tax increase to fund new staff positions in Fire and Police departments.

History of the levy request is cited on the City of Anacortes website: “For the past decade, the Anacortes City Council has evaluated the need for additional public safety staff throughout multiple budget processes and public safety presentations.”

“The City’s 2016 Comprehensive Plan and strategic plans for the Fire and Police departments have also recommended higher levels of service, which require additional staff to implement. Recently the Council identified a levy lid lift as the optimum way to increase revenue to add public safety staffing.”

“At Anacortes City Council’s regular council meeting on December 5, 2022, Council adopted Resolution No. 3103, which places a levy lid lift on the April 25, 2023 special election ballot. If approved by Anacortes voters, Proposition 1 titled “Public Safety Staffing” would add eight firefighters and five police officers.”

For information about the 2023 Levy Lid Lift: Public Safety Staffing Proposition 1, click here.