PORT TOWNSEND –The submission of a ballot measure to raise sales taxes in order to balance a Jefferson County government revenue shortfall will be completed just before the 5 p.m. deadline today.
The last-minute nature of the ballot measure is occurring because the county seeks to incorporate last-minute changes put forth by the Port Townsend City Council late Monday evening.
Earlier Monday, county commissioners approved putting the measure on the fall ballot to ask voters to raise the sales tax rate by 0.3 cent, which would require 3 cents additional for every $10 purchase.
All three county commissioners and County Manager Philip Morley appeared before the Port Townsend City Council to craft the measure so it would get support from the city.
As part of the measure, which will generate the largest portion of new revenue for the Sheriff’s Office.
The county was asking the city to use half of the funds generated to support county-owned park facilities that are within the city limit — specifically the Port Townsend Community Center and Memorial Field.
In the resolution, the county was asking the city to commit to provide facility support for six years.
Council member Kris Nelson said she supported the tax increase but disagreed with the time frame.
Morley suggested inserting the phrase “up to six years” but that did not satisfy Nelson, who wanted it to read “up to three.”
Of the four council members present, Mayor Michelle Sandoval and council member George Randals indicated they would support the measure as written while council member Laurie Medlicott did not directly state how she would vote.
However, she said that if the city was paying for continued upkeep of the facilities there should be a way to transfer their ownership to the city.
Shortly before 10 p.m., the council approved language that would read “up to four years,” and was working on sending its version of the resolution to the county this morning.
The county commissioners called a special 8:30 meeting to finalize the language, but the city had not yet finished the document.
The commissioners are now scheduled to reconvene at 1:30 p.m. today, quickly add the language and submit it to the auditor by the end of the day.
The county is not required to clear the ballot language with the city, nor was it necessary for the City Council to approve the ballot language.
But the commissioners said full city support will be needed to pass the measure, and Sandoval would not call for a vote until all the present council members agreed on a strategy.
“I would like to see us all agree on this,” she said.
The next step is for the city and the county to develop an interlocal agreement that spells out exactly how the money will be distributed between the two agencies.
The agreement is not subject to voter approval and can be modified.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
