CONSERVATION FUTURES LEVY<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\tUnlike the proposed charter amendment, Proposition No. 1, the Conservation Futures Levy, is likely to garner opposition.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The levy is not a new tax; King County implemented this levy more than 40 years ago, but this is the first time it’s back on the ballot, asking voters to reset the levy rate to its maximum of 6.25 cents.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The levy collects property taxes to fund King County’s Land Conservation Initiative, which gives the county funds to buy open spaces — urban green spaces, natural areas, wildlife and salmon habitat, trails, river corridors, farm and agricultural lands, and forests — to preserve and protect them from development.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Also a part of the Land Conservation Initiative is King County’s Farmland Preservation Program, which has bought up the development rights of farms around Enumclaw, for example, to protect them from development. The FPP uses funds from collected through the Conservation Futures Levy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Currently, the levy rate is at 3 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value. It’s shrunk since the levy was first implemented because state law says jurisdictions can only collect 1% more in revenue from property taxes over the previous year, so when property values increase at a faster rate, the tax rate must decrease to compensate. Resetting the levy rate to its maximum is officially called a “levy lid lift.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
At 3 cents, median property owners ($694,000 in property value) see an annual tax bill of about $21; doubling the tax rate would bring the annual tax bill to just over $43.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Although taxes from the levy are used to acquire control of open spaces, the Land Conservation Initiative doesn’t tackle these projects alone — cities, farmers, businesses, and nonprofits need to partner with the county and are usually required to pony up 50% of the necessary funds before the program purchases land. (There are exceptions where the match is waived.)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Proponents of the levy claim the Conservation Futures Program needs the additional funding to protect vulnerable land from climate change; conserve trails, natural lands, and forests for future generations; and retain farmland for local food production.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Opponents argue that the county already controls extensive swaths of unincorporated land, but doesn’t have the resources to maintain all of it. Additionally, preventing development in the county means higher property taxes for everyone, since fewer people will have the opportunity to move into King County to spread out the tax burden.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
FACT CHECKING<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\tThe official opposing statement against the levy claims King County already controls nearly two-thirds of the land inside the county.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“According to Water Land Resources Department, King County already controls\/owns 61.2% of the land in King County! That’s right, government already controls almost two-thirds of the land, yet they want more,” wrote Michael Fisette and Chuck Best. “Open space is important, but enough is enough. At 61.2% and growing, King County passed the balanced percentage a long time ago.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
This is wildly inaccurate, though Fisette corrected his statement in an email interview saying that government entities — from cities to the feds — control 61.2% of King County land.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
King County itself only controls about 3%, roughly 42,000 acres, of land, which is mostly rural residential and agricultural areas.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The federal government controls nearly 26%, mostly of forests.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Cities control about 11% of county land, which is mostly urban areas and forests.<\/p>\n\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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