Proposition 1: Community Services Levy Lid Lift

FactSheetBannerSnippetIn the November 2024 general election, Monroe voters will consider Proposition 1 to support investment in parks maintenance and public safety services. If approved by voters, Proposition 1, titled "Levy Lid Lift for Community Services for Parks and Public Safety Services, would allow the City to set its levy rate to $1.08 per $1,000 of assessed value (AV), an approximate increase of $.22 per $1,000 AV. If approved, on average, a Monroe homeowner would pay about $10.84 more a month in property taxes.

Why is the City seeking a levy lid lift?ParksMowMedian

Several community engagement surveys in recent years reflect a high value for quality parks and recreation activities and a safe community. Residents have even expressed a willingness to support an increased investment in Monroe’s parks system via a tax measure (See 2022 Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan). Residents and businesses also strongly value their safety. In response to these community priorities, the Monroe City Council considered a “levy lid lift to permanently invest in parks maintenance and public safety.

Monroe’s recent growth has created demand for more park amenities, recreation activities, crime prevention, nuisance abatement, and animal control. Property and sales taxes are flat, impacting funding for parks maintenance and public safety services.  

As property values have risen in recent years, Monroe’s levy rates have fallen from $1.46 per $1,000 of Assessed Value (AV) in 2013 to $0.86 per $1,000 AV in 2023. Sales tax revenues are not keeping pace with inflation and are expected to be below 2022 levels in the coming years. City operating costs have increased more than 25 percent due to inflation. The gap is widening between available revenues to maintain services the community appreciates and the costs of providing them. ParksSpiffsUpBallfield

As the City Council begins its process to adopt the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget, it considered alternative revenue sources to support parks maintenance and public safety services. If approved, Proposition 1 would:

  • Restore parks maintenance staffing to pre-recession levels to address current service demands due to an expanded park system and increased users, visitors, and special events, and to address deferred maintenance issues. 
  • Fund a second full-time Community Services Officer (CSO) that would allow for 7 days/week coverage for CSOs to address nuisance, animal control, and parkingCSO Haverly- tow- mod violations and represent the Police Department at community events.
  • Fund a public safety position in the Police Department that would best support community needs. 

For more information, view the Fact Sheet (English) (Hoja Informativa en Español). and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

What is a levy lid lift?

Washington’s levy-based property tax system allows a taxing jurisdiction, such as the City of Monroe, to collect a specified total dollar amount (the levy) per year. State law limits levy increases to 1% per year except for a voter-approved levy lid lift. A levy lid lift, if approved by a simple majority of voters within the taxing district, would raise the levy rate to an amount equal to or less than the statutory rate.A levy lid lift ballot measure is a mechanism for voters to approve an increase in a taxing district’s total levy by more than the 101% limit. Although a levy lid lift allows the total levy dollar amount to increase more than 1% over the previous year, it does not allow the levy rate per $1,000 AV to increase above the maximum statutory or constitutional rates. If approved, Monroe’s Proposition 1 would be an increase of approximately $10.84 per month in property taxes to Monroe homeowners. 

For more information, view the Fact Sheet.(English) (Hoja Informativa en Español) and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

What if the levy is not approved by voters?ParksTrashCollect

If Proposition 1 is not approved by a simple majority of Monroe voters, the maintenance of parks, trails, and facilities would continue but at reduced levels or be deferred. Additionally, there would be a reduction in special events, resources for field users, park reservations and a delay to parkland acquisition and development. 

If Proposition 1 does not pass, Community Services Officer (CSO) staff would revert to partial work-week coverage, responsbest-CSO Johnston-pkg tickete times to animal control issues and nuisance complaints would be delayed, and parking enforcement would be limited.


For more information, view the Fact Sheet (English) (Hoja Informativa en Español) and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).



Pro/Con committee members needed

At its July 23, 2024 meeting, the City Council acted to place the Parks & Public Safety Services measure on the November 5, 2024, ballot and seeks individuals to serve on the voters’ pamphlet pro and con committees. Individuals will be appointed by the City to provide statements in favor of or in opposition to the ballot measure. If you are interested in serving on either the pro or con committee, submit your name by Monday, August 5, 2024 at 4 p.m. by contacting Monroe’s City Clerk’s Office at 360-794-7400 or cityclerk@monroewa.gov.  Please be sure to indicate which committee on which you would like to serve, and whether you are willing to serve as the committee’s chair.  

Each committee is limited to three individuals, though an unlimited number of people can assist in the preparation of each statement. Only the three committee members’ names will be included with the statement. Each Committee must designate a chair who is the primary contact for the Snohomish County Elections Office (Auditor’s Office).  The Pro/Con Statements will be due to Snohomish County Elections by 5 p.m. on August 16, 2024. Rebuttal statements are due by 5 p.m. on August. 21, 2024.

Download an informational flyer to learn more about serving as a Pro or Con Committee member.