Langley ponders new tax

Published 1:30 am Friday, June 28, 2024

Langley officials are considering implementing a new tax that would help bridge an anticipated budget shortfall.

During a special meeting this week, the city council briefly discussed the possible public safety sales tax following a presentation by Mayor Kennedy Horstman, who informed them that the Village by the Sea is facing a $45,000 shortfall within the first quarter of 2025.

The sum of 2024 projected expenses is over $1.9 million, with city employee costs being the highest. Currently, the police department costs the city about $750,000 a year, which is more than a third of the general fund budget.

As Councilmember Chris Carlson pointed out, the police department is largely saddled with unfunded mandates, and the state doesn’t provide funding to pay for those services. He proposed a public safety sales tax of 0.1% that would bring in an estimated $51,648 annually based on 2024 projected sales. The measure would need to be approved by voters in order to take effect.

Police Chief Tavier Wasser spoke to the direness of the situation. If one of the police vehicles were to be totaled, for example, the department cannot currently afford to purchase a replacement.

Earlier this week, the city’s citizen-led Finance and Personnel Legislative Commission voted unanimously to support the proposed tax, though the members didn’t specify which ballot to place it on.

Horstman warned council members that they would have to decide soon about putting the tax on the November general election ballot.

“I’ve learned that government doesn’t move that quickly, and an August deadline is pretty darn sporty,” she said.

The city council is expected to vote on the tax during an upcoming meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. this Monday, July 1.