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Kenmore's Prop 1 creates overlapping funding with recently passed levies:
Kenmore's Prop 1 creates overlapping funding with recently passed levies:
King County Parks Levy
King County Parks Levy
Renewed by voters in 2025, this levy funds:
Climate resiliency and response that helps communities adapt to emerging climate risks.
Clean, safe, and open parks and trails.
New amenities and recreational activities.
Increased capacity for forest stewardship.
Accelerated regional trail expansion.
King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services
King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services
Renewed by voters in 2023, this levy expands access to critical human services to improve overall health and well-being, create thriving communities, and reduce disparities throughout King County.
To date, funding:
Helped build 234 affordable homes for veterans, plus 1,000+ more affordable units and 198 new shelter beds countywide.
Served 27,000+ veterans, service members, and families—and helped drive a 40% drop in veteran homelessness.
Funded 39 senior centers and reached 100,000+ seniors with expanded programs.
Provided services that support individual needs, including domestic violence hotline and mobile advocacy services for gender-based violence.
NPRSA Kenmore Senior Center
NPRSA Kenmore Senior Center
Renewed by voters in 2025, this levy:
Is funded through Northshore Parks and Recreation Service Area (NPRSA), a separate taxing district for Kenmore residents.
Develops, builds, and maintains parks and recreational facilities.
Northshore Senior Center operates programs that serve older adults, people with disabilities, and families.
Is Unique among Washington State special tax districts in its focus on facilities for older adults.
If passed, Prop 1 would raise property taxes and would generate revenue for any purpose.
We are not guaranteed which programming or projects related to climate action, housing, or human services will be funded, if at all.
All Kenmore residents are affected by Prop 1:
All Kenmore residents are affected by Prop 1:
Property owners, whether on a fixed income or not, pay increased taxes.
Renters/Tenants, whether on a fixed income or not, will be faced with rent increases passed along by landlords.
Younger people who want to purchase a home in Kenmore will find home ownership further out of reach due to ever increasing taxes and fees.
Businesses will have to pass increased rent/costs from increased taxes to all who shop at Kenmore businesses.
Women and minorities tend to be concentrated in the fixed and limited income segment of our city. This tax will land hardest on them, frustrating the Council’s policies encouraging diversity, equity and inclusion.
Increased taxes and fees are a backdoor way to exclude people from becoming Kenmore residents. Of the people who already reside here, increased taxes and fees make it more difficult to stay in Kenmore.
Comments on affordability by Council member Nathan Loutsis stated at the July 20, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting:
Comments on affordability by Council member Nathan Loutsis stated at the July 20, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting:
"When it comes to home ownership and thinking about affordability, it's something that my generation is seeing slip further and further away. Now, the average age of first-time home buyers is higher than ever. And part of that has to do with just increasing unaffordability. And when it comes to me thinking about what can I afford down the line, it seems to slip a little bit further and further away.
....each thousand dollars that we add in fees here and there will make it less likely that our community will attract younger families and younger home buyers."
Housing advocacy groups agree: even small cost increases cause displacement. Research shows that for every $100 increase in monthly housing-cost burdens in our region, homelessness rates spike by 15%.
By adding an unnecessary tax burden without local protections, Prop 1 actively threatens to price out the very neighbors we want to protect.
Climate Action is a focus for many Kenmore residents.
Climate Action is a focus for many Kenmore residents.
County & Federal dollars
County & Federal dollars
The recent King County Parks Levy was approved in 2025.
The City was awarded a grant to purchase the Lakepointe property.
The City will continue to find ways to fund these priorities without adding another regressive tax.
Carbon Neutrality
Carbon Neutrality
Through Puget Sound Energy, Kenmore taxes users an added:
6% for natural gas
4% for electricity
Rapid Plus Culverts & Salmon Habitat
Rapid Plus Culverts & Salmon Habitat
Funded through our Surface Water Management fees (6%).
How many low- to middle-income and fixed-income residents can absorb further fee increases, whether through direct billing or rent increases?
You pay the City of Kenmore through:
You pay the City of Kenmore through:
Property taxes
Utility providers
Sales tax
Licensing
Increases in these taxes and fees have a real impact on many residents' monthly budgets.
Additionally, the City is projecting $12.88 million net revenue from traffic cameras through 2030.
We support the goals, but the City already takes a significant portion of our income. It is time for the City of Kenmore to refine their use of existing revenue.
Where are the results?
Where are the results?
Your dollars leave the City of Kenmore for regional coordinated investments.
✅ We should require efficiency of those funds for more tangible results within our community.
The City of Kenmore has contributed to the ARCH Housing Trust Fund.
❌ There have been no new affordable homes built with those funds in Kenmore.
The Larus Senior Apartment Project (Jay's Cafe property):
❌ 175 units for low income seniors has been abandoned.
Human Services:
❌ The City of Kenmore does not offer any Human Services within the City, only coordinates them.
❌This would not change with the proposed levy funding.
Where it's good to take care of our broader community in King County, we first need to take care of our Kenmore residents.
Our low- to middle-income earners and those on a fixed-income are being priced out; we can't increasingly burden our neighbors for a tax that sends their money outside the community.
Support our Neighbors
Vote No on Prop 1
Support our Neighbors
Vote No on Prop 1
1 - Every registered voter should receive a ballot in mid- to late October. Not Registered? Register here.
2 - Look for Proposition No. 1 for the City of Kenmore and mark "No."
3 - Return your ballot postage free via USPS, postmarked by Election Day, November 3, or place it in any King County ballot drop box before 8:00 PM on November 3, 2026.
Local King County Ballot Drop Boxes:
Kenmore City Hall, 18120 68th Ave NE
Bothell Library, 18215 98th Avenue NE
Lake Forest Park City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE
Kirkland City Hall, 123 5th Avenue, Kirkland
Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd Street, Kirkland
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