In preparation for the 2024 Washington legislative session, set to kick off Jan. 8, 2024, Oak Harbor leaders have been discussing a list of priorities that Sen. Ron Muzzall, Rep. Dave Paul and Rep. Clyde Shavers should focus on.

During two recent meetings, the city council particularly focused on one item — revising the property tax cap. The current cap has been in place since 2002, when an initiative reduced the amount local governments can increase property tax collection each year from 6% to 1% a year. The state Supreme Court threw out Tim Eyman’s I-747, but the state legislature then adopted it under public pressure.

With this item, the city would join other municipalities in requesting the legislature to grant local elected officials the authority to revise the cap on property tax hikes to better account for inflation and population growth. The new cap would not exceed 3% a year.

Last year, according to Deputy City Administrator David Goldman, a bill to bring the cap to 3% failed in the legislature. The city might try to push for a second attempt, if the council approves the priority list at the next meeting.

On Nov. 29, Goldman said the city might benefit from a cap higher than 1% in the scenario of a recession.

Councilmember Beth Munns expressed support for the proposal, recalling how, years ago, the city lost approximately 18% of its income during a recession and couldn’t even afford to hire staff to fill vacant positions. The property tax should only meet the limit when necessary, she said, but having that option could help the city in times of financial hardship.

Councilmember Tara Hizon echoed Munn’s opinion, adding that the 1 percent cap is limiting and can’t keep up with rising inflation. She said it’s been getting harder for the city to pay for things that have resulted from state regulations.

On Dec. 5, Councilmember Eric Marshall said he worried that the 3% cap would be automatically applied every year, as he believes the voters should have a say in this decision. Goldman said he doesn’t expect that to happen.

Hoffmire suggested that a 2% cap would increase the chances of the request being approved by the legislature. Munns said she wouldn’t mind, as long as it does not stay at 1 percent.

Councilmember Bryan Stucky said the request might not go through because it hasn’t in the past and that changing the proposed cap from 3% to 2% wouldn’t make much of a difference. However, he said, it’s worth trying.

Hizon said that by joining many other municipalities in this request, the legislature might give its support.

Other priorities are as follows: Address municipal costs for public records requests by increasing the amounts to equal the cost of services and equipment. Executive Services Administrator Sabrina Combs, who presented the list, said on Nov. 29 that many other municipalities have been talking about addressing costs for public records requests. The city, she said, hasn’t set fees that appropriately charge people for the equipment and work that goes into every single request.

Secure more funding to improve the city’s infrastructure, funding the expansion of utility services, like broadband access, marina, Highway 20 and state ferries.

Expand housing options for the city’s workforce through partnerships with county, state and federal agencies and securing funds to support local developments.

Continue to support Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Address impacts to ratepayers by obtaining lower interest rates on the loan and reducing debt for the Clean Water Facility. Also, get legislative support to oppose any efforts to expand tort law liability and/or remedies under the law to prevent increased fees.

Create additional funding tools and resources to improve public safety, increase behavioral health response teams, expand access to training and law enforcement academy classes — thus increasing the number of officers.