PORT ANGELES — Clallam County taxpayers must pay $65,000 to $70,000 in election costs if a referendum on turning back a sales tax increase to support mental health and drug addiction programs qualifies for the ballot.
“It’s probably the cost of good government,” Dave Cummins, the referendum’s proponent, said Wednesday.
The one-tenth of 1 percent tax otherwise would have been collected starting July 1.
Cummins received official notice Wednesday that it had been registered with Clallam County Auditor Cathleen McKeown.
That started a 30-day clock for Cummins to gather the signatures of 6,497 electors, 15 percent of the county’s registered voters.
If he succeeds by May 5, the county has 120 days — until Aug. 3 — to hold an election.
Because that date falls short of the September primary, the county must call a special election.
That will cost at least $65,000, perhaps $70,000, according to Patty Rosand, county elections coordinator.
