Ordinance 5033 (Part 1): From Balanced Budget to $2.7M Ask
Did You Know that just eight months after adopting the 2026 budget, Anacortes wants another $2.7 million? On Monday, July 13, 2026, the Anacortes City Council will consider Ordinance 5033: a $2,718,453 budget increase for 2026. Budget amendments happen. Priorities shift, grants arrive, and true emergencies occur. But this one deserves sharp scrutiny. The ordinance […]
Ordinance 5033 (Part 2): The $9M Gap Behind the Reserve Request
Did you know that Anacortes went from strong reserves and a stellar AA credit rating to a brutal budget squeeze in record time? Editor’s Note: This article is the second in a two-part series exploring the city’s sudden budget shifts. If you haven’t yet, we highly recommend reading [Part 1: From Balanced Budget to $2.7M […]
What Changes for Anacortes Taxpayers: 2025 vs. 2027
Did you know that your property tax bill could go up by almost $1000 in 2027 when all major levies are in place for city of Anacortes residents? Multiple levies and increased property values will have significant impact on property taxes through 2027. Key Assumptions (Conservative) Home assessed at $750,000 in 2024 for 2025 […]
Where Do Your Property Taxes Go? And What’s Coming for Anacortes Schools?
Did you know Anacortes School District is asking voters to approve significantly larger levies in February 2026? When Anacortes residents open their property tax bills, it can be challenging to determine who actually receives those dollars. The City of Anacortes 2026 Final Budget document offers a clear snapshot on page 33 that helps answer this […]
Fidalgo Pool’s Comeback Wave: Can a Bold Park District Plan Win After the Near Miss in 2024?
Did you know that the Fidalgo Pool and Fitness Center will be on the ballot again this November based on forming a Metropolitan Park District (MPD) to replace the Fidalgo Park and Recreation District (PRD)? The pool, a community hub since 1975, serves over 6,500 visitors monthly and supports youth and adult swim teams. Proponents, […]
The Escalating Cost of Living in Anacortes: 2015 – 2025
Did you know that Anacortes with a population of approximately 16,189 as of 2015 and 18,270 as of 2025, has seen sharp increases in property taxes, utility fees and cost of building homes from 2015 to 2025? We have discussed property taxes in previous blogs. This blog will focus on utilities fees and cost of […]
Why the Dramatic Increase in Anacortes Property Taxes
Did you know why Anacortes property taxes have dramatically increased over the last few years? There are two main reasons for the increase: Assessed Value Increase: Market value of Anacortes real estate and consequently assessed value of Anacortes real estate increased dramatically in 2023. These increases resulted in an overall Anacortes property valuation increase of […]
How to Appeal Your Property Assessed Value
Did You Know that if you disagree with the County Assessors valuation of your property, you can appeal for a review? To successfully appeal the assessed value of your property, you must show by clear and precise evidence that the value established by the Assessor is incorrect. Some key examples as to why you might […]