The Bellevue City Council has removed language from its 2025 state legislative agenda that referenced expanding Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) authority and modifying property tax lid lift options.
The decision came during the council’s October 14 meeting after Councilmember Jared Nieuwenhuis proposed a last-minute amendment. The original draft stated that the City would seek greater flexibility for local revenue decisions, including potential changes to property tax and REET. The final version now reads: “The City requests that the Legislature provide greater flexibility for local revenue decisions.”
“We just went through the largest tax increase in state history. Affordability is something I hear about every day. We don’t need it. We’ve got banked capacity … Expanding REET would undermine affordable housing efforts, penalize nonprofit developers, and increase barriers to housing access especially in high cost cities just like Bellevue.”
Deputy City Manager Genesee Adkins explained that the references to property tax and REET have appeared in the city’s legislative agenda for the past three years to preserve local control, not to signal an intent to raise taxes. After discussion, councilmembers agreed that simplifying the language would avoid confusion and emphasize flexibility without implying tax increases.
For Bellevue residents, businesses, and housing developers, the change sends a clear signal: the city’s priority is keeping control over its financial decisions without signaling support for higher property or real estate taxes. It’s also a move that aligns with the city’s ongoing efforts to balance growth, affordability, and fiscal responsibility.
The motion to adopt the revised legislative agenda passed unanimously.
