TO: Committee of the Whole - Finance, Administration, and Communications
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CONTACT(S):
Finance
Kelley Cochran
425-556-2748
DEPARTMENT STAFF:
Finance
Haritha Narra
Deputy Finance Director
Finance
Hailey Zurcher
Financial Planning Manager
TITLE:
title
Adoption of an Ordinance Establishing the 2026 Property Tax Levy for General Operations
OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
recommendation
Pursuant to state law, the City of Redmond may levy property taxes annually for general operations. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 85.55.005 allows a jurisdiction over 10,000 in population to raise property taxes by the lesser of the implicit price deflator or 1% plus new construction, annexations, and other miscellaneous adjustments (e.g., refunds) with a simple majority vote.
The property tax ordinance establishes the 2026 property taxes for general operations and for supporting Redmond's Levy Funds for Parks and Public Safety.
body
? Additional Background Information/Description of Proposal Attached
REQUESTED ACTION:
? Receive Information ? Provide Direction ? Approve
REQUEST RATIONALE:
* Relevant Plans/Policies:
2025-2026 Adopted Budget
Fiscal Policies
* Required:
RCW 85.55.005
* Council Request:
N/A
* Other Key Facts:
N/A
OUTCOMES:
Redmond received preliminary property tax figures from King County for 2026 on October 9, 2025. The numbers are estimates and are subject to change once the final worksheet is received from King County. The attached ordinance (Attachment A) is based on preliminary information, as King County must receive Redmond's property tax request by December 1, 2025.
The rate of inflation (Implicit Price Deflator rate) was determined to be 2.44% by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The 1% limitation applies to the 2025 levy. The attached ordinance sets the 2026 total property tax levy at $34,455,724, with $27,561,411 for general operations and $6,894,313 related to three levy lid lifts. Relative to th...
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