No one likes taxes. It’s worse when candidates misuse statistics about taxes in order to get your vote.

Toby Nixon says that Councilmember Greenway voted for an 8.86 percent property tax increase in 2005. He said it on Kirkland Views and at the Chamber/Rotary candidate forum.

That sounds outrageous, doesn’t it? However, it’s not accurate.

Mr. Nixon has plucked the “8.86 percent” out of the City’s Ordinance 4025 in a reference to the Council’s approval of a provision known as “banked capacity.”

The council did this to fund 13 new public safety positions, including a 5-person “proactive unit” for the Police Department and an additional medical aid unit at the Juanita/Totem Lake fire station.

However, the council’s vote on property taxes didn’t increase taxes on your home by 8.86 percent. Instead, they approved a total millage increase – including the banked capacity – from $1.305 to $1.322, an increase of 1.7 cents.

For example, this means the City Council’s 2005 vote increased the annual tax on a $400,000 home by $6.80 per year. Yes, that’s right, less than $10 per year.

If that same property appreciated in value by $36,000 between the two years (consistent with the County average percent increase), the total increase in tax approved by council  – including the increase due to the appreciation in the property – was $54.39 per year.

That’s nowhere near an 8.86 percent tax increase and a small price to pay for the increased public safety benefit – and a 6-1 Council majority agreed.

So if someone tells you that Greenway increased your property taxes by 8.86 percent, now you know that is misleading campaign spin.

If you want your elected officials to tell the truth about taxes and finances while protecting public safety, please join me in voting for Jessica Greenway for re-election to the Kirkland City Council.

Bea Nahon, CPA, Kirkland