Kenmore retreat report on Sept. 15 consent agenda shows council agreed to pursue 2026 tax ballot measures

What the records say

The Sept. 15, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting agenda listed a consent item to receive and file the final report from the May 17, 2025 council retreat, and the packet includes the full report and the 2026 Council Priorities agreed to at that retreat. ¹ The report states that expenses are projected to rise faster than revenues in all scenarios, with a projected deficit of $13.2 million by 2032, and that council members agreed it is necessary to move forward on ballot measures. ¹ Council agreements from the retreat direct staff to begin the process to create one or both ballot measures for upcoming election cycles and to immediately retain a consultant to advise on that process. ¹ Because this is a pre-meeting agenda packet, the records do not establish whether the council approved the consent item on Sept. 15. ¹

• The Sept. 15, 2025 consent agenda included an item to receive and file the final report summarizing the May 17, 2025 City Council Retreat, held at Kirkland City Hall and facilitated by consultant Michael Pendleton. ¹
• The report states that in all fiscal scenarios expenses rise faster than revenues, with a projected deficit of $13.2 million by 2032, and that staff already cut more than $300,000 in expenditures in the current adopted budget. ¹
• Staff recommended moving forward with one of two ballot measure options — a Metropolitan Park District levy or a Public Safety and Human Services levy lid lift — with an estimated $200 to $350 per year property tax increase for the average homeowner. ¹
• Council agreements from the retreat direct staff to begin creating one or both ballot measures for upcoming election cycles and to immediately retain a consultant to advise on the process. ¹
• The council's top 2026 priority, set at the retreat, is ensuring financial sustainability through revenue enhancement and cost cutting. ¹

Why it matters

The two ballot measure options presented — a Metropolitan Park District levy at $0.20 or $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, or a Public Safety and Human Services levy at $0.30 or $0.35 per $1,000 — would increase the annual property tax for the average homeowner by an estimated $200 to $350 per year, according to the report. ¹ Residents would vote on these measures in 2026 election cycles, and the report notes MPD funds, if approved, would not become available until 2028. ¹ The report also records council direction to review jail contracting options and to develop an equity framework tool for council decision-making. ¹

What changed / what's next

• The Sept. 15, 2025 agenda packet published the full retreat report and the 2026 Council Priorities, scheduled to be received and filed as a consent item. ¹
• The supplied records are pre-meeting materials and do not establish whether the consent item was approved on Sept. 15. ¹
• The report notes a ballot measure costs an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 and that an uncertain voter climate and ballot fatigue are possible concerns. ¹
• The report flags that time is critical and that efforts to address coming budget shortfalls should begin immediately. ¹
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.