Facing an Existential Budget Crisis, an Eastside Enclave Considers Emergency Valve

Clyde Hill, a small Eastside city of 3,000 between Medina and Bellevue, is proposing a 69% property tax increase to address budget deficits that have drained reserves over five of the last seven years. The city council advanced plans for the levy in a special meeting, with final approval expected July 14. If approved, November voters will decide whether to raise the tax rate to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value—the city’s largest tax increase in decades—to avoid potential merger with a neighboring jurisdiction.