PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles city council tomorrow night could move a sales tax increase to voters this fall.
The council will consider a resolution that would ask voters to approve a one-tenth of one percent hike in the sales tax. That would establish a qualifying local tax under a new state law that can be used for housing issues.
The council will also consider a second resolution that authorizes a .0146 of a percent sales tax credit from the state.
Both tax issues are limited to support of assisting with affordable housing with things such as rental assistance or maintenance and operational costs of affordable housing facilities. If approved, the sales tax increase would bring the city an additional $320,000 a year. The tax credit would bring another $55,000 per year.
City staff say it would cost between $7,000 and $12,000 to run the sales tax issue on the November ballot. The cost could run to $70,000 if the city chooses to run it on a special election next year.