PORT ANGELES — Should Clallam County voters be asked to consider a penny-per $10 purchase sales tax hike to support law and justice services?
That’s a question the three county commissioners will try to answer in the coming weeks.
County Administrator Jim Jones said Monday that the juvenile services department is losing money at a rate that can’t be sustained.
The one-tenth of 1 percent “juvenile detention facilities and jail” sales tax increase is one taxing option that commissioners will consider putting on a special election ballot in February.
The sales tax would generate nearly $1 million per year to maintain mandated public safety services that the county provides.
Jones said juvenile services costs have been rising at three times the rate of inflation statewide.
“We can’t support it as a county on a 1 percent property tax increase,” Jones said.
“What has happened to us over the last 10 years is that law and justice in the general fund has increased about 90 percent, and the entire rest of the general fund costs have actually declined by 1.5 percent.”
Since 2007, a law and justice committee has been looking for ways to stabilize the courts and jail functions of the county.
Historically, juvenile services alone has been running $1.6 million to $1.8 million short, Jones said.
Sheriff Bill Benedict, Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly and four Clallam County judges submitted a budget proposal to Jones last month that pitched the penny-per-$10 sales tax to offset a combined $1.5 million shortfall in their departments.
Those departments worked together to cut the shortfall in half with internal cuts, new revenue and consolidation.
But they were still $792,612 in the red.
The juvenile facilities tax would require a simple majority — 50 percent plus one vote — to pass.
It could be used only for improvements to juvenile detention center or the jail, but would free up general fund money for other law and justice departments, Benedict said.
Benedict said the sales tax is the “most viable” of the five options that committee developed.
If approved for the ballot by commissioners Dec. 6 and passed by voters in February, Jones said juvenile services would likely be moved out the general fund into its own special revenue fund.
“That would free up general fund monies — property tax and sales tax that we get — to be used however the commissioners prioritize,” Jones said.
A Law and Justice Council, which includes Benedict and ranking law and justice people from the cities of Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks, will discuss the tax proposal in a public meeting Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. at the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles.
“It’s our intention at this point to discuss that very tax,” Benedict said.
The other taxing options that the committee developed were:
■ A general purpose property tax levy lid lift: It would require a simple majority and would lift the 1 percent increase restriction on the general levy.
It could be as high as the statutory maximum of $1.80 per $1,000 assessed valuation for up to six years. The current rate is $1.14 per $1,000. The levy would have the potential to raise nearly $5 million per year, Jones said.
■ A one-year maintenance and operations levy: Requires a 60 percent super-majority to pass. No limit on the amount.
■ A criminal justice special levy tax: Requires a super-majority to pass. Maximum of 50 cents per $1,000 for a maximum of six years.
This option would raise $3.7 million to $4 million per year. Funds would be restricted for criminal justice purposes.
■ Public safety sales tax: Requires a simple majority. It could be up to three-tenths of 1 percent, raising up to $3 million per year.
The money would be shared with the cities of Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks — 60 percent for the county and 40 percent for the cities — on a per capita basis.
One-third must be used for criminal justice purposes.
Franklin County recent passed this tax, and eight others already have it, Jones said.
In a related matter, the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s office said it wants city attorneys to handle many of their drug and theft cases.
This would result in higher costs for the cities, which are facing their own budget cutbacks.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
