PORT ANGELES – Clallam County Commissioners are considering a letter to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe proposing a formal agreement to address the impacts of land placed into the tribe’s federal trust status.
Commissioners say each trust conversion removes property from the county tax rolls, shifting the burden to other taxpayers. Commissioner Mark Ozias said the letter would be intended as a starting point for discussion.
“My hope is that this letter will serve as an invitation to open a conversation with the Tribal Council about this subject in more detail. Ideally, we can work toward a mutually acceptable agreement or understanding on how to consider the impacts of these trust conversions—what they mean for the Tribe, for their governance, and for fulfillment of creation of a land base for that Tribe and what it means for Clallam County,” said Ozias.
County officials say recent Jamestown trust land transfers represent more than $19,000 in lost annual property tax revenue on parcels valued at over $2.1 million. While the short-term impact is modest, commissioners noted that repeated conversions could significantly reduce the county’s tax base, particularly given the large share of exempt land already in Clallam County.
County administrator Todd Mielke says they are looking at a recent “payment in lieu of taxes” deal with the Quileute Tribe, county and the City of Forks as a possible model. But he also pointed out tribal trust lands is a very small percentage of the 65 percent land in Clallam County is held as public property.
“We’re at about 35 percent private ownership, which means the inverse—roughly 65 percent—is publicly owned. And I’d say even that 35 percent is a very conservative figure. It doesn’t include right-of-ways or other public ownership that’s removed from the tax rolls. It also leaves out property owned by school districts, Peninsula College, and other agencies. So realistically, the share of land in Clallam County that’s actually subject to property tax is probably even a bit less than that,” said Mielke
Commissioners also said they’d like to talk about lodging taxes and how that impacts tribal lodging facilities.
The draft letter notes the Tribe’s sovereign rights and economic impact. The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe employs nearly 1,100 people, provides about $4 million in monthly payroll, spent $6.8 million locally in 2024, and paid roughly $210,000 in county property taxes on non-exempt land.