Cosmopolis completes first reading of 2025 property‑tax levy ordinance, schedules final vote

The City Council of Cosmopolis held a first reading on Nov. 6 of an ordinance authorizing a regular property‑tax levy for 2025 and making required findings under state law. The ordinance text read that the dollar increase over the prior year's actual levy is $220, a percentage increase of 0.05% from the previous year.

Tara Dunford, the city’s contract CPA, explained that the practical impact is affected by how refunds are accounted for in levy calculations. Dunford said the arithmetic quirk means a 1% city levy increase would change total levy receipts by about $222 this year and she offered an example: on a $400,000 home the 1% increase would equate to roughly $8.63 per year for that homeowner.

Council and staff referenced the statutory limitation on base levy increases (RCW 84.55.120), and the council discussed the difference between the city portion of a property tax bill and total bills that include schools and other jurisdictions. City attorney Chris Coker and Dunford advised that while the council may choose a 0% or 1% increase (or some administrative option), a levy over 1% generally requires voter approval or statutory exceptions.

The council opened the public hearing on general fund revenue as required by statute, recorded the hearing opening at 07:33 and closing at 07:34 with no formal testimony during that window, and then completed the ordinance’s first reading. Councilmembers opted to schedule the final adoption vote at the next meeting to allow additional public comment and deliberation, noting county deadlines require final action in November.

Next step: the ordinance will return for a second/final reading and a vote at the next council meeting per the published budget calendar and county levy timeline.