TagTax Levy(40)

The City of SeaTac applied for $1,105,000 in King County Conservation Futures Tax Levy funds in 2022 to purchase the final three acres of surplus Washington State Department of Transportation land adjacent to Des Moines Creek Park, bringing the total acquired acreage to eight acres. The project aims to preserve forested upland habitat along a salmon-bearing stream, improve public park access from the west side via 18th Avenue South, and support trail connectivity including the Lake to Sound Trail. This was the third phase of a multi-year acquisition effort, following prior CFT awards of $1.1 million in 2019 and $500,000 in 2020.

The Port of Seattle is requesting $965,000 to fund its 2020 Economic Development Partnership Program, which provides grants to King County cities (excluding Seattle) to support local economic development projects such as business recruitment, tourism, and planning studies. Now in its fourth year, the program provides cities $1 per capita in funding and requires a 50% match from participating cities. In 2019, 23 of 38 eligible King County cities participated, with approximately $778,000 awarded for projects ranging from business assistance to regional marketing collaborations.

The Port of Seattle Commission approved Resolution No. 3755 on December 11, 2018, authorizing a property tax levy of $74,160,000 for the 2019 calendar year. This represents a 3.0 percent increase of $2,160,000 from the 2018 levy of $72,000,000, at a rate of approximately $0.1232 per thousand of assessed value. Excluding new construction and refunds, the effective increase for tax filing purposes was $419,783, or 0.583 percent.

In December 2018, the Port of Seattle Commission voted to increase its annual property tax levy by 3 percent, raising it from $72,000,000 to $74,160,000 for the 2019 fiscal year, a difference of $2,160,000. The increase was required to be formally documented under Washington State law (RCW 84.55.120) through a separate resolution specifying both the dollar amount and percentage change. The Commission had previously approved the levy increase as part of its broader 2019 budget adoption in November 2018.

The Port of Seattle presented its 2019 Budget for final adoption at a Commission Meeting on November 27, 2018, covering operating expenses, a five-year Capital Improvement Plan, staffing, and a proposed tax levy. Key initiatives included serving growing passenger demand at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, supporting the airport's capital improvement program, improving safety and customer service, and advancing cruise and real estate development projects. Serving increased regional demand was identified as the primary driver behind the 2019 budget.