City Manager Report – November 7, 2025

Public Hearing: Setting Normandy Park’s Property Tax Levy

The City of Normandy Park invites all residents to attend the public hearing on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The hearing will be held in person in the Council Chambers at City Hall (801 SW 174th Street) or via Zoom. During this hearing, the City Council will consider the proposed 2026 property tax levy, which determines the amount of revenue to be collected to support essential city services. The proposed rate will not exceed $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Why this matters

In Washington State, local governments, such as Normandy Park, operate on a budget-based property tax system. As part of the budget process, the taxing jurisdiction establishes the amount of property tax revenue needed to fund the budget. That amount is called the levy amount, or simply the levy. It is the total amount to be collected from taxpayers by a taxing district. For Normandy Park, this regular property tax levy is a primary source of revenue for general city services: policing, permitting & planning, public works, community services, and more.

Common Questions & Answers

Q: What exactly is the levy?
A: The levy is the total dollar amount of property tax the city intends to collect from property owners for its operations. This amount goes into a formula that includes your assessed value, which determines the actual dollar you pay,

Q: How much of my tax bill goes to the City?
A: In Normandy Park, residents have over ten taxing districts, and the City’s share is just a portion of your overall property tax bill (which also includes county, fire district, schools, etc.). Recent information estimates that the city’s share of your total tax bill is approximately 12%.

Q: Can the City raise the rate by any amount it wants?
A: No. There are legal constraints in Washington, and the system is complicated. The taxing structure is subject to limits such as overall levy rate ceilings and caps on annual increases to limit the impact on residents from year to year.

Q: What will happen at the hearing?
A: Residents will have the opportunity to provide verbal testimony (in person or via Zoom) and/or submit written comments. The City invites questions and written comments directed to the City Manager ahead of the hearing. After public comment, the Council will adopt the levy resolution.

Q: What happens after the levy is set?
A: Once adopted, the levy amount is certified to King County. The county assessor uses the city’s levy amount and the total assessed value of your property to compute the final rate and include it in your annual tax bill.

Why your involvement matters

The City understands that your annual property tax bill represents one of your most significant annual expenses. Because the levy is foundational to the city’s budget, this hearing provides a key opportunity for you to ask questions, build your understanding of the budget, and offer feedback. Even though the city’s portion of your overall bill may seem small, it supports the visible and essential day-to-day services in Normandy Park — from safe streets to community planning and local government operations.

We encourage you to join the meeting, ask your questions, and stay informed. If you can’t attend in person, please check the city website for the Zoom link and instructions on how to provide written comments.

If you have any questions on this or any other topic, please get in touch with me at aarrington@normandyparkwa.gov. Have a great week!

“Because the levy is foundational to the city’s budget, this hearing provides a key opportunity for you to ask questions, build your understanding of the budget, and offer feedback.”