Clallam: County sales tax hike proposal likely to go on Sept. 17 ballot

2002-07-16
by BRIAN GAWLEY
Peninsula Daily News

Clallam County voters will decide Sept. 17 whether to raise the sales tax by one-tenth of one percent to replace lost state criminal justice funding.

County commissioners are expected next week to place the sales tax proposal on the September primary election ballot.

If approved, the Clallam County sales tax would increase from 8.2 cents for every $1 of retail sales to 8.3 cents.

``I think we can get the community behind it. I think they will support it,'' County Administrator Dan Engelbertson told the county commissioners as he presented the county Law and Justice Advisory Council's recommendation Monday.

The increase would raise about $460,000 for Clallam County, $185,000 for the city of Port Angeles and about $30,000 each for Sequim and Forks, he said.

County Commissioner Mike Doherty, D-Port Angeles, said the increase would help fund increases in criminal justice costs.