A mistake in calculating how sales tax from the Hood Canal Bridge reconstruction project will be distributed means Jefferson County will receive nearly 90 percent less than announced last week.
But two other agencies are benefiting.
Treasurer Judith Morris, using information provided by the state Department of Transportation, last week reported that the county was going to receive $2.2 million in sales tax proceeds from the $27 million estimated cost of work on the half of the bridge in Jefferson County.
But county commissioners learned Monday that Transportation’s figures failed to take into account the money the state will collect, and also money allocated to criminal justice and Jefferson Transit Authority.
When they thought they were going to receive $2.2 million, the commissioners thought of helping to fund the sewer system for the Irondale-Port Hadlock urban growth area or repairing the aging clock tower at the courthouse.
On Monday, they learned the county’s portion of the sales tax revenue will be $291,600, to be paid through the time the bridge work is completed in 2007.
The news may be disappointing to county officials, but it has a silver lining for Jefferson Transit. The public transportation provider is scheduled to receive about $162,000.
