Island County posted this item on their news page on Mon., July 15, 2024.
City Council Seeks Members to Serve on Pro and Con Statement Writing Committees
On July 15, 2024, the Langley City Council adopted an ordinance requesting the Island County Auditor include on the ballot, in the November 5, 2024 election, a proposition to the qualified voters of the City to approve or reject a sales and use tax established in RCW 82.14.450 to support criminal justice and law enforcement. The proposed sales tax authorized by this proposition would permit the City to increase its sales and use tax up to one-tenth of one percent (0.1%). (This represents ten cents on a taxable purchase of $100.) The amount collected in 2025 and following years will be approximately $51,000 per year in 2024 dollars annually.
If approved by voters, this proposition would authorize an increase in the City sales tax to fund certain criminal justice services and improvements as authorized by RCW 82.14.450. State law requires that one-third of the additional sales tax revenues be spent for fire protection and criminal justice purposes as identified by the City Council. In recent years, the City has experienced increased criminal justice costs with respect to prosecution, public defense, and court expenditures. The City has also experienced increased costs associated with recruiting, retaining, training and equipping the City’s law enforcement officers. These cost increases are expected to continue as a result of inflation and increases in labor costs. The additional tax revenues will enable the City to maintain or improve the existing levels of service for prosecution and public defense and will help fund the City’s court costs. The additional tax revenues will also help fund expenses associated with employing the City’s law enforcement officers. This tax would be paid by anyone who makes a taxable purchase in the City, including non-residents.
Per RCW 29A.32.280, the City Council will formally appoint a committee to prepare arguments advocating voters’ approval of the measure and shall formally appoint a committee to prepare arguments advocating voters’ rejection of the measure. The Council will appoint persons persons that reside within the jurisdictional boundaries known to favor the measure to serve on the committee advocating approval and shall, whenever possible, appoint persons persons that reside within the jurisdictional boundaries known to oppose the measure to serve on the committee advocating rejection. Each committee shall have no more than three members; however, a committee may seek the advice of any person or persons. If the Council fails to make such appointments by the prescribed deadline, the county auditor shall, whenever possible, make the appointments.
If you are interested in serving on the “pro” or “con” committee for the above proposal, please submit your name to the Langley City Council by Noon on August 2, 2024, to be considered for appointment. It is expected that the Council will appoint members at its August 5, 2024, meeting. “Pro” and “Con” statements are to be completed no later than Noon on August 15, 2024.
Please read Public Safety Tax Pro and Con Committee Notice for more details.
Names can be submitted by emailing the Council at council@langleywa.org or by calling 360-221-4246.
