By DEBERA CARLTON HARRELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

County projections forecast a population increase in Edmonds of about 6,000 by the year 2012. But citizens and city officials say there is little room to expand. And because land and houses are at a premium, there will be more pressure on property taxes, officials said.

Mayor Fahey said Edmonds gets 36 percent of its $60 million operating budget from property taxes and 17 percent from sales taxes, with police and fire services using up 49 percent of the budget. Lynnwood, by contrast, gets 35 percent of its operating budget from sales taxes, Fahey said.

Edmonds is trying to harness local business -- and sales taxes -- from the 5,000 cars a day that pass through the city going to and from the ferry. When new ferry traffic lanes were built to bypass Main Street and relieve traffic jams, potential shoppers also were rerouted.

One proposal is to ask the state Department of Transportation for a reservation system similar to the San Juan Islands ferry, which would allow ferry passengers to park and leave their cars to shop without losing their place in line.

"Most people agree that the ferry has more economic advantages than disadvantages," Toskey said.

The regional transit system and Amtrak, with a train station near the marina, also will bring potential visitors to Edmonds, officials said.

"All cities are focused on economic development," Mayor Fahey said. "You can't keep your city healthy and vibrant based on property taxes."

Edmonds residents, perhaps accustomed to trusting city officials and their own opportunity for input, do not seem overly concerned about losing their "wonderful way of life."

As Myers put it, "You'd think we sound like Pollyannas. It's not the case. It's just that people love being here. We're proud of what we have and we'd like to maintain what we have.

"We're not opposed to progress. We just want to make sure that people can still park their cars, that grandpa can still take his grandson to the fishing pier."