Applications are now open for Burien residents interested in participating on a committee in support of or against a proposed ballot measure to fund public safety initiatives in Burien.
Both Pro and Con Committees will be tasked with drafting a position statement by Aug. 12, 2025 that will appear in the King County Elections local voters’ pamphlet, in addition to submitting a rebuttal to the opposing committees’ statement by Aug. 14, 2025.
As we previously reported, the Burien City Council voted at its June 30, 2025 meeting to place Ordinance 874 on the consent agenda for its upcoming regular meeting, officially approving the ballot language and explanatory statement for the measure.
If approved, the levy would support the Burien community’s top three public safety priorities as identified over more than two years of active community engagement, research and planning by City staff, and presentations to the City Council.
Based on the current language, this levy would raise property taxes above the current state-imposed limit. According to what’s in the agenda packet, the measure is expected to cost the average homeowner about $474 per year.
Those three priorities are:
- Preserving and expanding the police co-response model to address homelessness, mental health crisis, and public use of drugs;
- Maintaining the current level of police staffing and hiring additional police officers to support co-response teams, increase patrols throughout the city, and support community crime prevention programs; and
- Creating safer streets and sidewalks through improvements to infrastructure and additional street lighting.
Applications for both committees are due July 9, 2025. The City Council will review applications and appoint up to three members for each committee at its meeting on July 14, 2025. Committee members will have the opportunity to engage with neighbors and gain insights from the community as they work to draft a position statement.
Residents interested in learning more about the levy proposal and applying for a committee can visit the City’s webpage at burienwa.gov/levy.
There is absolutely no reason for a “Con” statement, this Levy is an absolute necessity for Burien’s future and wellbeing. Anyone who wishes to complain about the financial cost needs to also consider the price that crime takes on your families safety, property and investments you made in Burien.
I think I’m Pro, but I’d like to hear what the Cons have to say. I’m 100% on board with infrastructure improvements, but am more hesitant to throw money at law enforcement without understanding the specific initiatives that it will fund and the impacts on the community.
Two of the three priorities listed in the article point out the law enforcement aspects and goals, those alone are reasonable expectations and worthy of approval. Thank you for being involved and leaning towards a safe and prosperous City.
I support public safety—but not at any cost. Burien homeowners already pay a median effective property tax rate of about 1.10%, which is higher than Seattle (≈ 0.85%) and Bellevue (≈ 0.71%). This proposed levy would raise that burden even further, pushing us well above regional averages.
Most nearby cities manage to fund public safety and infrastructure without taxing residents at this level. Instead of adding another permanent, uncapped levy, we should be demanding a more balanced plan—one that includes oversight, measurable outcomes, and investment in long-term prevention, not just enforcement.
Burien taxpayers are already paying more than their fair share. Until there’s a more responsible approach, I’m voting NO.
Well, there is an old saying , “you get what you vote for”. In the past twenty years new residents to Burien have voted into office new Burien resident who know little to nothing about Burien nor financial responsibility. The first priority of government is to “protect its citizens” then to provide for roads. All the rest of the current spending programs are not a priority and should be funded ONLY after priority issues are fully covered.
That’s a fact, look at some of the Council candidates and how they continue to tout failed Progressive ideals that brought past and continuing issues to Burien. All these activists want is to create is a mini Seattle where camping, open drug use and lack of Public Safety allows for individual freedom to live your destructive lifestyle as a right.
I agree with you Chuck. Burien government is currently wasting our tax payer resources on the wrong priorities. The solution is not more taxes, but rather a re-prioritization of spending.
25 Years ago, I purchased a home here because it was affordable. It is becoming less so.
Plus, there are so many abandoned and empty homes/ housing units here – look into some sort of incentive to get those filled.
We don’t need more police – I promise you that.
If you want those empty homes/units filled there has to be a safe environment for people to make that investment, nobody wants to move into an area that has become empty and lacks Law and Order. News flash – It’s become more expensive everywhere.
Louis, what we need is for Burien government to do the responsible thing and re-prioritze the spending, not increase taxes. There’s no reason for Burien to have such a high tax rate when compared to other cities. Just look at the rates for Seattle (≈ 0.85%) and Bellevue (≈ 0.71%).
Now compare to Burien 1.10%…why is Burien’s property tax 29.41% higher than Seattle’s!! Burien’s property tax is astonishingly 54.93% higher than Bellevue’s!!!
Comparing Burien to Bellevue is as logical as apples to jackfruit, the property values they have make Burien look like a windswept desert shack town. Our lack of wealth and the inherent social services needs driven by Burien’s makeup is a overwhelming factor in the cost disparity.
There are many issues driving tax percentages but when a City is rolling in money and has a huge business tax base to fund it, using it as a comparison is moot.