City raises property taxes by 1%, taking allowable increase
On Nov. 25, the Sammamish City Council voted unanimously, 7-0, to levy the allowable 1% increase in property taxes for 2025. All members of the council were present for the vote.
The City calculated that for the median property value in Sammamish, the levy would result in approximately $11 more in taxes in 2025.
Chris Gianini, the City’s deputy director of finance, presented the ordinance for consideration during the Nov. 4 city council meeting. According to Gianini, Sammamish only receives about 14% of its residents’ property taxes. The rest goes to schools, King County, libraries, emergency medical services, transit, port, and flood districts.
The increase, which by Washington state law is the maximum that the City Council can make for 2025, would raise the portion that the City takes in by 1%. It is expected to generate $302,446 to support city operations.
Gianini explained that when assessed property values fluctuate in King County, the property tax rate goes in the opposite direction. This means that an increase in property value equals a decrease in tax rate and accordingly the levy rate.
Even with the 1% increase, the Sammamish property tax levy rate will decrease by 12 cents per $1,000 in 2025. However, because of rising property values, Sammamish homeowners will end up paying more in taxes in 2025.
According to Gianini, the total assessed value in Sammamish increased 12.3% from $28.4 billion to $31.9 billion over the last tax year. The median home value in Sammamish in 2024 was about $1.25 million and is expected to rise to $1.4 million in 2025. The City calculated that for such a property, the levy would result in approximately $11 more in taxes.
The ordinance was open for public comment from Nov. 4 to Nov. 19. The council had no discussion or comments on the ordinance.
Correction: The original version of the article stated that the levy cost $1,543 for city residents. $1,543 is the portion of the total property taxes which goes to the city. We have corrected this article to reflect that the 1% levy in 2025 will cost $11 more for the median Sammamish home.
