The Bremerton City Council approved increases in property taxes, utility rates and fees for services this week in order to fund the city’s 2015 budget.
That action took place at its weekly meeting in preparation for adopting the budget which is set for Dec. 3.
Overall, the city budget will increase from $34.4 million this year to $36.1 million in 2015. The total 2015 projected tax revenue (property taxes, sales taxes, business and occupation taxes and private utility taxes) in the General Fund is $23.048 million, approximately $984,000 more than 2014.
As allowed by state law, the council opted to increase property taxes to residents by 1 percent, the maximum amount allowed. That is anticipated to bring in about $7 million. The city’s EMS levy is expected to bring in another $1.19 million, and the public safety bond levy will bring in about $891,000.
In addition to the property tax increase, the council approved increases in charges, rates and fees for services.
Included are increases in such things as licenses for fundraising, mobile food vendors, street vendors, mobile merchants, parking, document reproduction, animal control fees and parking penalty fees.
Fees for services in the community development department also are projected to increase as are rental fees in the parks department.
The council also approved increases in utility fees including water (up 8.5 percent) waste water (up 4 percent) and storm water (up 13 percent). The council was told that the average increase would be about $10.49 to the residential customer, up from $168 in 2014 to an average of $178 in 2015.
Although the council approved the increases the vote was not unanimous, with Leslie Daugs voting against all three measures and Mike Sullivan voting no on the utility increases. Member Roy Runyon wasn’t present during the vote.
Council President Greg Wheeler said he was surprised that council members voted against the increases because they hadn’t indicated any problems with increased rates during budget workshops.
“I had no idea that those votes were coming,” Wheeler said. “There were no concerns raised at the budget workshops. The raises are just allowing the city to keep up with the cost of doing business. I guess we’ll see on Dec. 3 when we address the budget whether a majority will pass it.”
