Cashmere council sends public safety levy to November ballot after supportive hearing

CASHMERE — A public hearing on a proposed property tax increase to fund police and jail services drew only a handful of speakers Monday night, and while they raised questions about rising property values and future costs, none opposed putting the measure before voters.

Following the hearing, the Cashmere City Council unanimously approved an ordinance placing the proposed levy lid lift on the November ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would gradually increase the city's regular property tax levy over six years before returning to the state's standard 1% annual growth limit.

Mayor Jim Fletcher said the proposal is intended to address a widening gap between property tax revenue and the city's public safety costs, particularly contracts for law enforcement and jail services.

"Now we are having law enforcement costs which are even greater than the property tax revenue remaining in the city," Fletcher said during the hearing. "The difference in 2025 and 2026 is being made up by less services. That's how we balance the books."

Fletcher emphasized that the proposal is not intended to fund new projects or expand city services, but to preserve existing ones.

"This is not a result of city spending on projects, new projects or other services," he said. "This is strictly related to jail, sheriff, and we're starting to talk [about] the new jail contract right now."

The proposed levy would increase the city's regular property tax rate from approximately $1.44 to $1.57 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2027, an increase Fletcher said would cost the owner of a $500,000 home about $65 during the first year. Additional increases would continue through 2032 before the levy returned to the state's standard limit.

Former Chelan County Auditor Skip Moore, who retired earlier this year after 23 years in office, said he supported placing the proposal before voters, noting that the city's costs are unlikely to decline.

"We're not going to see that happen," Moore said of sheriff and jail contract costs. "I think what you're doing is probably the best thing you can do, short of vastly curtailing services to the city."

Another resident, Bill Donald, said he understood why the council was pursuing the measure but worried rapidly increasing property valuations could make future tax bills more difficult for homeowners to absorb.

"I get what you guys are doing," Donald said. "I understand. But I just don't see how feasible it's going to be."

Donald’s property is currently valued at just over $380,000 currently, making his increase through this levy almost exactly $50 per year, even less than Mayor Fletcher’s estimate for the average cost.

One resident, Joanne Carr, said the proposed increase appeared modest compared with the quality of city services, noting that her property taxes had changed little during the eight years she has lived in Cashmere.

"Sixty-five dollars, that's nothing," she said, adding that the city might even be justified in asking for more given the community's quality of life.

Council members said they had spent more than a year considering alternatives, including creating separate taxing districts for parks, the city pool and fire protection. Fletcher said those options would have resulted in additional layers of government and higher costs than the proposed levy.

Councilmember John Perry suggested an alternative structure that would spread the increases over a longer period at a lower annual rate, but the council ultimately agreed to advance the original proposal, with some saying delaying additional revenue would require the city to continue operating with reduced services.

Councilmember Jeff Johnson said the city has already reduced staffing and expenditures significantly, leaving few options if voters reject the measure.

"The alternative really is to probably scale back police or maybe eliminate police," Johnson said. "From our perspective, that was not what we thought that people desired."

The measure will appear on the November general election ballot for voter consideration.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media