Some Kirkland parks and public works maintenance services affected by budget reductions will soon get restored, thanks to a new state law that allows flexibility in the use of existing revenue from Real Estate Excise Taxes (REET).
At its meeting on July 5, the Kirkland City Council unanimously approved amending the city’s current budget to include the revenue to be realized once House Bill 1953 takes effect on July 22. The bill, supported by the Washington Realtors, allows local REET taxes to be used for maintenance and operation expenditures of existing capital facilities through 2016.
Restrooms closed at the North Kirkland Community Center and city parks will be reopened, portable toilets will be added back at several neighborhood parks, and improvements to the restrooms at Houghton Beach and Waverly Beach Parks will be completed.
Funding to support seasonal labor for parks maintenance personnel and hiring road maintenance crews is also included.
“Kirkland’s efforts to support this legislation have paid off for our citizens,” said Mayor Joan McBride. “Kirkland is a progressive, livable, walkable Growth Management Act city that has planned for growth and accommodated density. We have invested in an amazing park system of 40 parks and over 100 miles of arterials, 70 percent of which are ‘complete streets’ with sidewalks and bicycle paths.
“The city receives millions of dollars of REET each year to buy open space and build roads,” McBride continued. “This bill allows us the flexibility to temporarily use existing REET funds to help protect our investments and our quality of life.”
The State of Washington is authorized to levy a real estate excise tax on all sales of real estate, measured by the full selling price, including the amount of any liens, mortgages and other debts given to secure the purchase at a rate of 1.28 percent. A locally-imposed tax is also authorized.
However, the rate at which it can be levied and the uses to which it may be put differs by city or county size and whether the city or county is planning under the Growth Management Act.
“This is not a new tax, nor is it a long-term solution to the budget challenges faced by local governments,” said Rep. Larry Springer. “We worked closely with the Realtors’ Association to reach a compromise that allows the state’s fastest-growing jurisdictions to use a majority of the money to address infrastructure needs, while also providing flexibility for smaller jurisdictions. As the bill’s prime sponsor, I’m proud that the City of Kirkland is among the first jurisdictions to use this important tool.”
Planned improvements for city parks and restoration of maintenance services include:
• Restore service to neighborhood restrooms at North Kirkland Community Center, South Rose Hill Park, and Phyllis Needy Houghton Neighborhood Park
• Restore six portable toilets at Woodlands, Tot Lot Park, Spinney Homestead Park, Terrace Park, Forbes Creek Park, and Rose Hill Meadows Park
• Provide for watering at Peter Kirk Park near the new Transit Center
• Clean and preserve 27 public art pieces
• Seasonal parks maintenance personnel for painting and staining and cemetery maintenance
• New roof and paint for the Waverly Beach Park restroom and Houghton Beach Park restroom
• Hiring two road maintenance grounds crew members to support shoulder and median maintenance
• Lease roadside mowers
The bill was also sponsored by Representatives Dean Takko (19th Legislative District), Dave Upthegrove (33rd District), Larry Haler (8th District), Joe Fitzgibbon (34th), Jan Angel (26th), Norma Smith (10th), and Pat Sullivan (47th). The bill passed the House 79 to 18, and passed the Senate 28 to 20. It was signed into law by Gov. Chirs Gregoire on May 16 and takes effect July 22. For more about HB 1953, visit the Washington State Legislature Web site at www.leg.wa.gov.
