Bothell's Safe Streets & Sidewalks levy enters its final year; staff exploring future funding
The 2024 accountability report presented to the Council on April 1, 2025 confirms 2025 is the last year of the nine-year levy, and staff is exploring future options with the City Council. 1
What the records say
The April 1, 2025 City Council agenda included a staff briefing on the Safe Streets & Sidewalks Annual Accountability Report for 2024, with attachments for the 2024 annual report and a 2017–2024 accomplishments summary. 1 Bothell voters approved the levy in November 2016 as a nine-year levy lid lift at an initial rate of $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value; due to growth, the 2024 rate was $0.32 per $1,000 and generated about $5.7 million. 1 The 2017–2024 report states the levy will expire at the end of 2025 and that total levy funding from 2017 through 2024 was $40,233,033.02. 1 The 2024 report's 'What's Next' section states that since 2025 is the last year of the existing levy, staff is exploring future options with the City Council. 1 The briefing requested no Council action, and the packet does not establish what, if anything, the Council decided on April 1. 1
- The levy is a nine-year levy lid lift approved by voters in November 2016 at an initial $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value; the 2024 rate was $0.32 per $1,000 and generated about $5.7 million. 1
- Total levy funding from 2017 through 2024 was $40,233,033.02, with roughly 51.1% going to Street Operations, 41.2% to pavement preservation, and 7.6% to sidewalk, crosswalk, and safe school walk route programs. 1
- The 2024 report states 2025 is the last year of the existing levy and that staff is exploring future options with the City Council; no action was requested at the April 1 briefing. 1
- Planned 2025 levy-funded work includes sidewalk projects on Safe School Walk Routes near six schools, Norway Hill pavement overlays, and multiple crosswalk improvements. 1
Why it matters
Levy dollars fund street maintenance, pavement preservation, and sidewalk and crosswalk work near schools — programs residents see and pay for directly through property taxes. With the levy expiring at the end of 2025, whether the city pursues a replacement or renewal will shape future funding for those improvements. 1
What changed / what's next
- The April 1, 2025 agenda included the Safe Streets & Sidewalks 2024 Annual Accountability Report as a staff briefing, with the 2024 report and 2017–2024 accomplishments summary attached. 1
- The attached report confirms the levy expires at the end of 2025 and that staff is exploring future funding options with the City Council. 1
- The packet does not establish the outcome of the April 1 briefing or any Council direction on future levy funding. 1
- The report notes 2024 financial data is unaudited and may be updated after the city's annual audit. 1
- Watch for a future funding proposal or ballot measure as the levy's final year proceeds. 1
- The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.