PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners are considering a request to place a special tax on the November ballot to support veterans relief.
The proposal from the Clallam County Veterans Association would raise the property tax for veterans relief from 11/8 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 3 cents per $1,000 for the next six years.
For the owner of a $167,000 home — the median home value in the county — the annual amount paid would increase from $1.88 per year to $5.01 per year. That’s a $3.13 difference.
If approved, the special tax would replace the current tax authorized by state law and county code.
The money would be used to support the Veterans Assistance Fund, which provides limited emergency assistance to eligible veterans and their dependents.
No commissioner objected to the proposal when it was discussed in a work session Tuesday.
“I think that it’s important for our community to understand what the true need is and what that costs,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said.
“I’m certainly supportive of adding it to the ballot when it comes time.”
Public hearing
Commissioners are expected to call for a public hearing on an ordinance to add the item to the general election ballot next Tuesday.
Clallam County Veterans Association officials said the relief fund has been in the red for several years because of the effects of the 2008 recession and because more indigent veterans are seeking services.
The fund has an annual budget of $195,852, including administration.
The current tax for veterans relief covers $82,330 of that expense, leaving a $113,522 deficit.
County commissioners “generously” provided $81,000 in general fund reserves to support the veterans relief fund in the 2016 budget, association President Gary Velie said.
“We’ve been able to function in the past because we had a very large reserve that was built up over years of virtually non-use of the fund, and then when we started using it more actively, it was doing OK,” Velie told commissioners.
“But then came 2008 with the recession. Property values went down, our income went down and we were consuming our reserve fund and staying within our budget. But this year, we weren’t able to do that without your assistance.
“So this [proposal] is to remedy that problem.”
Basic needs
The veterans relief fund helps qualified veterans pay for things such as food, rent, utilities and medical and social services.
Veterans must meet low-income standards and other eligibility requirements to receive the temporary assistance.
“We are good stewards of this money, and we’re trying to make it go as far as we can for our local veterans,” association Secretary Tammy Sullenger said.
“We’re not frivolously spending the money.”
Board Chairman Mike Chapman directed the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to verify that the board has the authority to place a special tax on the ballot under the county charter and to prepare the ballot language.
Ballot language must be submitted to the county Auditor’s Office early next month.
Peach opinion
Commissioner Bill Peach was absent from the work session because he was serving with the state Board of Natural Resources in Olympia.
Peach, who works closely with veterans groups, has opposed tax increases as a county commissioner.
“If the public says yes, I’ll support the public decision, period,” Peach said in a Wednesday interview.
“I would really question it. I’m not a strong proponent of tax increases, but I do understand the veterans’ needs.”
Clallam County has one of the highest per-capita veteran populations in the state, Velie has said.
Members of the Clallam County Veterans Association voted 9-0 on June 22 to forward the proposal to county commissioners.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
