PORT TOWNSEND — Future county funding of the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County could hinge on its ability to show results in new businesses and increased sales tax revenues.
The issue was raised at Monday’s county commissioners’ meeting as a request for $25,000 in community services grant funding for the EDC was approved.
“We need an increase in sales taxes,” said Commissioner Pat Rodgers, R-Brinnon, who hit on the same subject last week during a Quilcene-Brinnon Chamber of Commerce meeting.
“The EDC needs to step up to the plate.”
Rodgers called for the EDC to provide “a real measure of performance” in the future.
He said the EDC’s performance can be measured by how many new businesses it attracts to the county and how much sales tax revenues increase.
Marty Gay, EDC interim director, said he agrees with Rodgers’ assessment of the group’s performance looks forward to meeting with the new commissioner.
“I think we deserve some of (the criticism),” Gay said during a telephone interview Monday evening.
As an EDC board member before accepting the position as interim director in January, Gay said he felt the economic council could have been more aggressive.
“I don’t want to be the one saying the EDC was missing in action,” Gay said.
“We do some good things — we’re not a nothing.”
