Swinomish need to support debt service

The Swinomish Tax Authority used the same levy rate for 2023, 2022 and 2021: $11.98 per thousand. But, the assessed value of homes in Shelter Bay and Pull & Be Damned increased from $196,279,100 to $206,399,050 over the past year.

The Swinomish government aims to collect $2,440,832 in taxes from Shelter Bay, Pull & Be Damned and Thousand Trails.

Three taxing districts will receive contributions from the Swinomish. These are: Fire District 13 at $400,000 for operations and maintenance, plus $90,000 impact fees from the casino, plus a medical grant from the state via the Tribe. The La Conner Library gets $50,000. La Conner schools have requested $415,000 for operations and maintenance, $60,000 for part time teachers, $25,000 for cultural assistance, $50,000 for science education, plus $100,000 to a sinking fund for a new roof on the gym. This is the last year for the sinking fund. The Tribe has not responded to the request yet. Not in the budget is something called ESA, which is one assistant for each classroom to help with the Lushootseed language.

The Tribe does not contribute to the debt service for the bond that built the middle school. About 34% of the students are Native American, so if the Tribe were to pony up their share of the $1,300,000 debt service, they would contribute $442,000. In an election, they voted for the bond.

After deducting the contributions, exemptions, uncollectible taxes and taxes shared with the county, the Tribe will have an estimated $1,279,538 left.

The three taxing districts that receive a contribution from the Tribe should deduct the amount of the contribution from their levy requests, but there is no evidence that they do so. They receive the tax shift plus the tribal contribution.

The remaining taxing districts are Medic 1, County General, County Roads, Conservation, the Anacortes Port District and the state school levy. All of these districts provide services to Shelter Bay and Pull & Be Damned, but none of them receive any money. Medic 1 should receive $65,201, but gets nothing. Skagit County accounts for $548,918. The state levy for schools costs $531,973. The Anacortes Port District adds $34,737. The total tax shift is $1,132,027.

Because of the tax shift, those living in La Conner will see $251 added to their taxes. Those living in the county will see an additional $294. The rest of the county taxpayers will see a tax increase of $15. This has been going on for eight years. I will try again with Representative Shavers in 2024 to make the tax shift go away.

Dan O’Donnell has been the Skagit County Treasurer and a La Conner council member and mayor.