City Manager Report – September 26, 2025

Normandy Park’s Annual Property Tax Levy: What It Means for You

Fall is officially here, and the City is preparing for its end-of-year activities, which include setting the property tax levy for the upcoming year. This year, Normandy Park will set its annual property tax levy on Wednesday, November 12th. Since property taxes can be confusing, here’s a breakdown of what the levy is, why it matters, and how it’s decided.

What Is the Levy?

When you pay your property taxes, your money is split between multiple agencies, including schools, King County, the fire district, the library district, and the City of Normandy Park. The City’s levy is just one small piece of that total bill — usually about 10–12% of what you pay each year.

Why is the Levy Important?

The levy determines the property tax collected by the City and is the General Fund’s single largest revenue source. For cities like Normandy Park, which are relatively small and have limited commercial and industrial development, this significant reliance on property taxes is typical. Even though the City’s share of your tax bill is relatively small, it funds the services you see and use every day, such as: Police and emergency response, Permitting and planning services, and General City operations. Without the levy, the City wouldn’t have the resources to provide these essential services.

How Does the City Decide the Levy Each Year?

The City Council reviews and sets the levy annually in November for the upcoming year. Here’s how it works:

1. Budget Needs – The City looks at how much money is needed to fund services for the upcoming year.
2. Property Values – Because property values change each year, the levy “rate” (dollars per $1,000 of assessed value) may go up or down, depending on how values shift.
3. Council Adoption – After public hearings and discussion, the City Council formally adopts the levy in November. King County then collects the tax on the City’s behalf as part of your overall property tax bill.

How to Estimate Your Property Taxes

It’s easy if you know your property’s assessed value and tax levy rate. Here’s a simple formula to calculate it: Value x levy rate = taxes

For example, if the assessed value of your property is $1,000,000, and the levy rate is $1.50 per thousand dollars of value.

Value: 1,000 ($1,000,000 divided by 1,000) x levy rate: $1.50 = Taxes: $1,500

And remember, assessed value and market value are not the same. Visit the King County Assessor’s Website to find your value.

The Bottom Line

The City levy is only a small portion of your overall property tax bill, but it makes a big difference locally, funding the police and community services you depend on.

The City appreciates our citizens, and we understand that your annual property tax bill represents one of your most significant annual expenses. We aim to continue providing outstanding services, and our property taxes enable us to do so. Come to the City Council meeting on Wednesday, November 12th, to learn more.

If you have any questions about the information above or any other City topic, please get in touch with me at [email protected]. Have a wonderful week!

“The levy determines the property tax collected by the City and is the General Fund’s single largest revenue source. For cities like Normandy Park, which are relatively small and have limited commercial and industrial development, this significant reliance on property taxes is typical.”