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DEPARTMENT NEWS 

 

PUBLIC WORKS

ROAD CONSTRUCTION FOR CULVERT REPLACEMENT PROJECT—The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has been conducting construction on 131st Ave NE in Woodinville.

 

Construction work has been underway since December 2016 and is currently scheduled to conclude in fall 2017. The scope of the project includes constructing an underground bridge to replace an undersized culvert (a culvert is a tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a road or railroad).

 

In March, WSDOT began drilling through the roadway to create 70 large shafts for new concrete bridge piers.

 

At the end of July, there was a weekend road closure to complete work necessary to the project.

 

Questions or comments regarding this project can be directed to Kris Olsen, WSDOT communications, at 206-440-4704, or email olsenk@wsdot.wa.gov. 

 

POLICE

POLICE FUN AT CELEBRATE WOODINVILLE—The Woodinville Police Department was thrilled to participate in this year's Celebrate Woodinville festival. It was great seeing the community and visiting with neighbors at Celebrate Woodinville.

 

King County Sheriff's Office "Bear" and TAC 30 Deputy Bolson answered questions about SWAT missions in the department. Deputy Akiona and his Bomb Explosives Detection K-9 Chase walked in the parade and stopped by the Woodinville Police booth with Deputy Rowe to answer questions and handout crime prevention information.

The Police Department also partnered with Regional Animal Services of King County who brought two kittens for adoption and talked about the importance of spaying and neutering our pets.

 

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

KING COUNTY METRO TRANSIT CHOICES FOR WOODINVILLE—Try a new way to go. King Country Metro will be bringing a whole suite of travel options that are affordable, convenient and easy to use:

• COMING SOON: TripPool—An easier way of connecting to transit! Use a smartphone app for on-demand ridesharing between your neighborhood and the Bothell Park & Ride. Metro provides the vans and reserved parking! And, if you prefer to drive, Metro is currently recruiting volunteer drivers.
• COMING SOON: Real-Time Rideshare—For the ultimate in flexibility, use a smartphone app to offer up or find a carpool, to work or school, in real-time.
• COMING SOON: Community Van—Request a seat on a group trip already planned or work with our local Community Transportation Coordinator to propose a new trip. Ride in Metro vans with volunteer drivers. We are looking for trip ideas and recruiting volunteers to drive these vans, too.
• VanPool—Cut the cost and stress of commuting with VanPool. A fixed group of five or more people share the ride, on a fixed schedule, from home to work. Metro provides vans and volunteer drivers.
• Metro Bus—Hop on the bus and ride with easy connections throughout the region.

Watch your mailbox! Metro is sending Bothell-Woodinville residents information and ideas about how to take advantage of these travel options. Or, you can learn more and get a FREE tote bag and travel map by visiting: Go-Bothell-Woodinville.com

 

FINANCE

THE SCOOP ON TAXES IN WOODINVILLE—There are two main tax revenues that support general government services in Woodinville; Sales Tax and Property Tax. These taxes cover law enforcement, permitting, long range planning, public works engineering, street maintenance, celebrations and concerts, park maintenance, legislative, and administrative services. 

 

You might be thinking, “Wow, I pay 10¢ on every $1 in sales tax and my property taxes go up every year. The City must be pull in a lot of money!” You’d be right, the City does pull in a lot of money from these two sources of revenue. In 2016, the City received $3.06 million in property taxes and $4.8 million in sales tax[i], a total of $7.9 million.  This means that 64% of the City’s money that it uses to operate from day to day, comes from one of these two sources. In 2016, it cost $9.4 million[ii] to run the City, so the City relies heavily on these taxes.

[i] Net of Sales Tax dedicated to Capital Investment activity.

[ii] Net of Surface Water Management, since it has a dedicated revenue.

 

Exciting stuff, isn’t it? Here is a little more on Sales Tax, to feed the soul. Not all the sales tax collected comes to the City. In fact, most of it goes to the County and the State. The State keeps 6.5¢ for every $1 of retail sales and the County receives 2.65¢ for every $1. That’s right, the City gets less than a penny (.85¢) for every $1.  Actually, it is even less than that because the State charges an administrative fee, so it works out to be about .84¢ for every $1 in retail sales.

I’ll bet you’re hungry for more. This stuff is invigorating! Property Tax is the second largest source of revenue for the City, and the most reliable. The City’s 2017 levy rate is $0.95075. The first step to calculate the amount of tax this levy imposes, is to know the assessed valuation of your property. Let’s assume that your home is valued at $500,000. The next step is to divide the assessed valuation by 1,000 ($500,000 ÷ 1,000 = $500 adjusted valuation). The last step is to multiply the City’s levy rate by the adjusted valuation ($0.95075 x $500 = $475.38 property tax levy). In this example, the City would receive $475 from you, the property owner, in 2017.  

 

Did you know that the City has only raised its property tax levy twice in the last 10 years (in 2015 and 2017)? In fact, in 2010 the property taxes were actually decreased from the prior year. This means that the City Council has been working hard to keep your property taxes low. The biggest downside to this fiscal approach is that our City’s most reliable funding source has not been keeping pace with inflation.  

 

I can tell by the way you are shaking your head that there is a disconnect from reality. You’re probably thinking two things. First, “My taxes have gone up year after year,” and second, “I pay way more than a few hundred dollars a year in property taxes.” Besides the City’s tax levy, there are many other factors that influence an individual property owners tax and that could explain the increase in your taxes. The three most prominent factors are: 1) other taxing districts have increased their tax levy on your property; 2) the value of your property went up compared to the value of others within the City and as a result your share is higher while their share of the tax burden is lower; and 3) you made improvements to the property which added “new value” and increased your assessed valuation. 

 

The reason why your property taxes are in the thousands and not just a few hundred dollars each year is there are multiple taxing districts that make up your total tax rate. The table and graph depict all the entities that you pay property taxes to support.

Should you need to feed your enthusiasm and excitement for government finances, feel free to contact the City’s Finance Director, Blaine Fritts by email: blainef@ci.woodinville.wa.us or by phone: 425-877-2261.

 

ARE YOU HARBORING A FUGITIVE? 

A pet license identifies and protects your dog or cat in case he/she gets lost. Pet licenses are required for all dogs and cats eight weeks of age or older in the City of Woodinville and in unincorporated King County.

 

 

Juvenile (up to six months old): the pet does not need proof of spay/neuter to purchase this license. The license is good for 6 months and costs $15.

Altered (over 6 months old): Proof of spay/neuter is required.  The annual cost is $30.

Unaltered (over 6 months old): If not spayed/neutered the annual cost is $60.

 

If you are 65 years of age or older and your pet is spayed or neutered, you pay $15 annually.  You will need to provide proof of your age and proof that the pet is spayed or neutered.

 

Pet licenses can be purchase or renewed at Woodinville City Hall during regular office hours or online. Need to update your licensee address or contact information? Please call 206-296-0100.