G.R.I.T.
ARCHIVES:
Previous (2004) SPD Levy Election
Archived webpage re the county-mandated 800 Mhz system -- a "must-have/use
it or lose it" system for 911 service. It was EXTREMELY expensive
and the choices were (1) cough up the $$$ for that system; or (2) use
walkie-talkies and hard phone lines within the city during emergencies
(no choice at all). That issue became the "star" of the 2004
levy election, overshadowing the City's first attempt to pass a levy to
fund police staff/equipment.
PLEASE
VOTE!
REGISTER
TO VOTE
In November's election: .Download
a registration form (must be postmarked or hand-delivered NO LATER THAN
Friday Oct. 6th). If you miss that deadline,
you can still register within 15 days of the election (by Oct. 23) at
the County Auditor's office in Everett: here's the link
to Snohomish Co. info
Please
educate yourself on what this levy will buy for you and Sultan. Then get
the word out to your friends and neighbors. Most importantly, please,
please VOTE!
(You can register by mail to vote by Oct. 6th, and even later, in-person
at the County Courthouse in Everett; see our note, right)
SULTAN POLICE LEVY
Election: November 7, 2006
- Sultan's property crime rates are rising.
- Sultan's population is rising (it will double within 3-4 years).
- Sultan's nearby HOMELESS POPULATION is rising (in-county, south of the Skykomish River)
- Sultan police levels are decreasing.
Please don't place yourself into the position of saying: "Where WERE you?!?" if police are unable to respond quickly enough -- or cannot respond at all -- to a future emergency. The real question might well be: "Where were YOU?" during this levy election?
(Here's a FLYER we mailed to new homeowners,advising them of the Aug. 17th Town Meeting on this subject. And here are the results of the "instant feedback" voting poll taken that evening.
DOCUMENTS:
- Snohomish FD #5 Resolution 2006-06 in Word (in pdf), supporting Sultan's Police Levy
- A word-for-word transcription of Chief Walser's 23-minute introductory comments made at the August 30, 2006 Levy election kick-off meeting (in Word, and pdf) - The Chief gives great background on the need for this levy, and a summary of Sultan's police department changes since he came on board in late 1996.
- LEGAL NOTICE : Ballot Proposition, Sultan Ordinance 935-06
- Results of an "instant feedback" voting poll taken during the Aug. 17th Town Hall meeting (re police)
- A Slide Show presentation of police statistics of activity (given during Jan. 2004's Council Retreat
HOW MUCH WILL THE LEVY COST YOU?
$0.9858 per $1,000 of home valuation:
For
instance, if you own a home valued at $200,000,
you will pay $19.72 per month. This
is comparable to a BARGAIN MATINEE movie for two at the Monroe Galaxy
Theatre, with an extra-large buttered popcorn:
BARGAIN
MATINEE: $6.75 x 2 = 13.50
PLUS: X-Large popcorn @! $5.75 =
TOTAL for two hours' entertainment: $19.25
COST OF POLICE WHEN YOU NEED THEM;
PRICELESS
AUDIO OF COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS & VOTES RE THIS SUBJECT
(To search for items related to this subject, use the GOOGLE search window provided near the top of our front page. Type "police levy" or other variations or words to Google info on this, and other, subjects.)
FROM JAN. 25, 2006 - DISCUSSION ITEM (Excerpt from City Meeting Minutes)
(Audio, 845 kb, 4:48 min.) Police Levy: Chief Walser discussed the possibility of a police levy in September 2006. The city will need to draft a ballot title and present it to the county forty five days prior to the election. This would be a one year levy and would have to be run annually to continue. Brief discussion was held regarding the election costs, cost per thousand for the levy and the need to run the levy for several years.
FROM JUNE 29, 2006 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES:
-
"Chief Walser advised that the City needs to make a decision on what type of police department and level of service that they want. There are staffing issues and a need for police vehicles and equipment. The Council needs to consider a levy to fund vehicles and computers." [G.R.I.T. NOTE: There are a total of THREE audio files related to this discussion; please access our audio page for this meeting for the following audio files related to Walser's statement: Audio File J-1 (9:49 min., 1.7 mb); Audio file J-2 (9:20 min., 1.6 mb); and Audio File J-3 (10:42 min., 1.9 mb)
Council member & Mayor Comments:
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Audio File L-1 (3:36 min., 635 kb):
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Mayor Ben Tolson: The issues with plats have been very frustrating and it is difficult to make decisions. The lack of review on the 2004 Comp Plan has caused problems.
-
Councilman Jim Flower: The definition and character of a community is defined by its level of service for police and parks and dropping the level of service is not in his vision for Sultan.
-
-
Audio File L-2 (3:53 min., 685 kb):
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Councilman John Seehuus: It is one thing for citizens to say they want the services, but there is a point that the citizens must act and vote when a levy is presented. The city can’t afford any more cuts. Have a good police department and he supports the levy.
-
Councilman Steve Slawson: Supports the Police Department and he has received citizen comments on the service
-
FROM JULY 13, 2006 - HEARING ON ORDINANCE TO CREATE CITY B&O TAXES
There was quite a bit of discussion and many suggestions related to how the city could find and increase their revenues, and several related to whether or not the police should be funded by a levy. So this gives good financial background as to why a Levy is required.