A failing sales tax increase for Clallam County criminal justice funding could mean ailing jail facilities, more misdemeanants on the streets and staffing cuts.
Without a final vote tally from Tuesday’s primary election, the proposed tax’s fate is unsure, but justice officials are preparing for the worst.
“I’m still hopeful that there’s some hope in the tax passing,” Pete Peterson, county director of juvenile and family services, said Wednesday. “But I’m also realistic and I’m dealing with the fact already that it’s showing that it’s failing.”
The proposed 0.1 percent sales tax increase, from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent, would raise about $726,000 annually for the county’s criminal justice fund if approved.
Initial election returns show the measure losing 54 percent to 46 percent, with 13,714 votes counted.
On Friday, county election officials will count 7,276 ballots received since Monday, plus any ballots postmarked Sept. 17 that arrive today and Friday.
A total of 39,624 ballots have been issued in the all-mail-in primary election.
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The rest of this story appears in the Thursday Peninsula Daily News Clallam County edition. Click on SUBSCRIBE to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.