During a special meeting on Thursday, July 24^th, the Yakima City Council voted to place a measure on the November 4^th, 2025 general election ballot which, if approved by voters, would result in an increase in the City’s regular property tax levy and would raise revenue in 2026 in the approximate amount of $6,000,000.00.

If the measure is approved, the levy rate would increase by 50 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value.

In accordance with Revised Code of Washington 29A.32.280, the Council will appoint members to committees to prepare Voter’s Pamphlet statements for and against the ballot measure.  The Council will appoint no more than three community members to serve on each committee.  Committee members must live within the city boundaries of Yakima.

The Council will appoint committee members at its Monday, August 4^th regular meeting, which will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Once appointed, committees work independently of the City to prepare a written statement advocating either approval or rejection of the ballot measure to appear in the Yakima County Voter’s Pamphlet.  Committee members’ names will be included with the statement.  The committees will also have an opportunity to prepare and submit a rebuttal in response to the statement prepared by the opposing committee.

Initial statements will be due to the Yakima County Elections Office on or before August 12^th, 2025.  Rebuttal statements will be due on or before August 15^th, 2025.

Committee member names must be approved by the City Council and submitted to the Yakima County Elections Office by August 5^th, 2025. 

Anyone interested in applying to serve on either the for or against committee needs to submit an application, which can be accessed by clicking on the following link – For or Against Committee Application | City Council

Applications can be submitted in person to the Yakima City Clerk’s office at Yakima City Hall (129 N. 2^nd Street) or by email at city.council@yakimawa.gov. 

Applications must be submitted no later than 12:00 pm (noon) on Thursday, July 31^st. 

For more information about applying for one of the committees, contact the City Council/City Manager office at 509-575-6040 or cally.price@yakimawa.gov.