Cloud-based CQC Advisory Committee members reported county officials voted in June to ask voters whether to approve a levy lid lift, a measure that would permit the county to raise property-tax revenue above current limits. Committee members said the measure will appear on the November ballot.

Committee discussion framed the levy lid lift as a response to multi-year county budget pressures. "...we did a 3 year look forward to just try to see what's our path," one member said, and they added that state changes in areas such as indigent defense have contributed to forecast shortfalls. Members said the levy lid lift would provide more sustainable funding for services that can be cut in poor budget years, specifically naming parks as an example.

Speakers also noted public sensitivity to property-tax increases. The committee discussed potential complementary approaches such as exploring vacant-property ordinances or seasonal-residence taxes as other budgeting tools, but stressed those ideas would be policy choices and not guaranteed revenue sources. No committee action was taken on the levy lid lift during the Sept. 18 meeting; the discussion was a status update about the county commissioners' earlier decision to place the question before voters.

Authorities and next steps: Committee members characterized the ballot item as a "levy lid lift" and noted it was an action by the board of commissioners in June; the committee did not propose language or take a vote. Members suggested continued public outreach would be needed to explain the measure before the November election.