On February 10, San Juan County Council adopted a resolution to place a levy lid lift on the April 28, 2026 Special Election ballot. The proposed levy of $.85 per thousand of assessed property value would be a 57 percent increase over the current levy of $.54 per thousand of assessed property value.
The levy lid lift would support ongoing programs and services funded by the county general budget, such as public health and senior services, public safety and victim services, emergency management and the Islands’ Oil Spill Association, County parks and Fair operations, 4-H and marine protection work, and other public services provided by San Juan County.
A property owner of a $850,000 home would pay $722.50 in 2027 compared to $459 in 2026 if voters approve the ballot measure.
According to the county, the proposed $.85 levy rate is the same as the one in effect the last time a levy lid lift was approved by voters. Since property values have risen, the $.85 levy rate in 2026 would cost taxpayers 57 percent more than the $.85 levy in 2019.
Levy rates go down each year as the rate needed to collect the approved dollar amount is less each year due to rising property values. An $.85 rate in 2020 garnered $7,124,250. An $.85 rate in 2027 is projected to raise approximately $12.5 million, $4.5 million more than the $8,076,770 collected in 2026.
Here are the dollar amounts collected from the County Current levy from 2017-2026
- 2017: $5,626,022
- 2018: $5,743,760
- 2019: $5,856,231
- 2020: $7,124,250
- 2021: $7,292,434
- 2022: $7,459,973
- 2023: $7,634,116
- 2024: $7, 800,061
- 2025: $7,952,441
- 2026: $8,076,770
Information about the levy lid lift is posted on the county’s website.