PORT ANGELES — The City Council has appointed two committees to prepare arguments for and against a November ballot measure for a 0.1 percent sales tax increase for affordable housing.
The council voted 4-0 Monday — with Kate Dexter abstained and Mike French and Michael Merideth excused — to appoint Emily Dexter, Bobby Dunlap and Amy Miller to a committee to draft a statement in support of the proposition for the local voters’ pamphlet.
The council also voted 5-0 to appoint Andrea Williams, the lone applicant, to a committee to advocate for rejection of the ballot measure.
If approved by a simple majority in the Nov. 5 general election, the sales tax rate within the city of Port Angeles would rise from 8.7 percent to 8.8 percent effective Jan. 1, 2021.
A $10 purchase would cost one cent more and a $100 purchase would cost 10 cents more if the measure passes.
The sales tax increase, which is authorized under section 82.14.530 of the Revised Code of Washington, would generate about $320,000 annually for affordable housing and housing-related services, city officials have said.
It would also make the city eligible for a sales tax credit from the state equal to 0.0146 percent under House Bill 1406.
The legislation, which became law in May, encourages investments in affordable and supportive housing. It was co-sponsored by state Reps. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, and Steve Tharinger, D-Port Townsend.
Dexter abstained from the vote to appoint the three-member committee to advocate for the city sales tax increase because Emily Dexter, the Port Angeles Food Bank executive director, is her sister-in-law.
Dunlap is the president of the Serenity House of Clallam County board of directors.
Miller is a social worker who heads the REdisCOVERY outreach program, a partnership between the Port Angeles Police Department and Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic.
Williams, a retired college professor who specialized in several business subjects, including business communications, was the only person to apply to draft a statement against the sales tax increase.
The committees could be composed of no more than three.
French, who pitched the sales tax proposal with fellow council member Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin in previous meetings, also applied to help draft the statement in support of the measure.
“Council member French had a great deal to offer when presenting this for the council vote, and he will I’m sure have opportunities to present his opinion,” Council member Cherie Kidd said during a nine-minute special meeting Monday.
“But I’m inclined to make it a citizens’ committee, because it’s really a citizens’ task.”
“Mike, don’t take it personally,” Council member Jim Moran added.
The City Council voted 5-0 July 16 — with Kidd and Merideth excused — to place the sales tax proposal on the November ballot.
It was noted at the special meeting Monday that Williams lives outside the city limits on Dan Kelly Road.
“I do not love that she’s not a resident of the city, but this is certainly a sales tax that’s going to impact people who live outside the city as well who come in and shop,” said Kate Dexter, the city’s deputy mayor.
“I appreciate her interest and I thought her application was thoughtful. I think it’s important to have both sides having a statement so I think it’s a good idea to appoint her.”
Other council members agreed.
“We do need to have both sides presented to the voters,” Kidd said.
“So I’m inclined to vote for her.”
The lack of affordable and available housing in Port Angeles has been a top priority for the council this year.
According to an explanatory statement, revenue from the sales tax increase, if approved by voters, could only be used for constructing affordable housing, providing housing-related services or funding the operations and maintenance of new affordable housing units where housing-related programs are provided.
“Such affordable housing and facilities will be provided to persons whose income is at or below 60 percent of the median income of Clallam County and who are: persons with mental illness; veterans; senior citizens; families with children who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless; unaccompanied homeless youth or young adults; persons with disabilities; or domestic violence survivors,” the explanatory statement said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
