Proven Tax Savings Without Service Cuts

Affordability is a common mantra of our leaders, and nothing has improved affordability on the Island more than the three defeated City and School ballot measures from 2018 to 2025. The Island was made more affordable without impacting its quality of life or the level of City or School District services.

By voters defeating the City’s 2018 $21M City Prop 1 Excess Levy Lift, the $2.0 Median Assessed Valued Homeowner has saved $2,371.

For comparison with your home, this home on the SW side of the Island is documented with a 2025 assessed value of $2,043,000 or only $7,000 below the King County Assessor’s Median Assessed Valued Home on MI of $2,036,000. 

Savings based on different values are summarized:

2026 savings from voter’s defeating the 2025 $165M School Bond and the 2025 $103 City Bond based on assessed valued home are summarized:

With Total 2018-2026 cumulative savings from voters defeating all three measures based on the assessed valued home are summarized:

In reviewing the dire predictions of cuts to services, parks, and every department if the 2018 City’s Prop 1 did not pass, none of these impacts occurred, and City reserves have actually grown. From the Reporter’s Oct. 17, 2018 article “Fact Check: Prop 1”:

“There will be immediate cuts to human services, parks, and police/fire in the city budget if Prop 1 doesn’t pass.”

“Those are lower priorities of government, but over six years, we would have no choice [but to cut more].”

“Every department would be impacted.”

“The only fallback after 2020 is the contingency fund, and to break even in 2021, that fund will have to be drained.”

MISS fully recognizes the School District Savings from the 2025 Bond will be offset by its replacement probably in 2027. But it is our sincere hope the School District recognizes Islanders’ sentiment on overreaching projects and scales the next bond to about half the size of the 2025 bond. Learn More…

MISS submitted proposals for an efficient city campus that includes a renovated maintenance facility, a PD/EOC facility and full utilization of the recently acquired $9M (+ renovation costs) 9655 neighboring building. Additional information is available at: https://www.miforss.com/city-hall-campus/

Affordability is a common mantra of our leaders. Nothing has improved the affordability on the Island more than the defeat of the three measures. The Island was made more affordable without impacting its quality of life or level of City or School District services.

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Contact us today to learn how you can help MISS impact local government and enhance the quality of life for all Mercer Islanders.