Special election to decide sales tax increase would cost up to $70,000, county says

2006-04-06
by JIM CASEY
Peninsula Daily News

PORT ANGELES -- Clallam County taxpayers must pay $65,000 to $70,000 in election costs if a referendum on turning back a sales tax increase to support mental health and drug addiction programs qualifies for the ballot.

``It's probably the cost of good government,'' Dave Cummins, the referendum's proponent, said Wednesday.

The one-tenth of 1 percent tax otherwise would have been collected starting July 1.

Cummins received official notice Wednesday that it had been registered with Clallam County Auditor Cathleen McKeown.

That started a 30-day clock for Cummins to gather the signatures of 6,497 electors, 15 percent of the county's registered voters.

If he succeeds by May 5, the county has 120 days -- until Aug. 3 -- to hold an election.

Because that date falls short of the September primary, the county must call a special election.

That will cost at least $65,000, perhaps $70,000, according to Patty Rosand, county elections coordinator.