Mayor proposes 4.4% budget increase

Maxwell is proposing a 4.4 percent over the current year’s budget which includes a one-percent property tax increase. He pointed out that the Anacortes property tax rate is the lowest of any city in the county.

Maxwell said “These are difficult times and not all cities are as financially well off as Anacortes.” He said the city has had to scale back some capital projects. “We can have everything,” he added.

One of the major projects which will move ahead is a planned $2.5 million expansion of the city’s water treatment plant. The city is a major water supplier in the area, supplying water to Oak Harbor, Whidbey Naval Air Station, Skagit Public Utilities District customers, as well as Anacortes residents.