Sequim may ask voters for sales tax increase in November

SEQUIM — A sales-tax increase in the city of Sequim could appear on the Nov. 4 general election ballot, thanks to a list of funding-starved street projects.

The Sequim City Council voted 6-1 Monday night, with member Walt Schubert the lone dissenter, to start the process of forming a citywide transportation benefit district.

A transportation benefit district is a taxing district designed to generate revenue for road widening, new traffic lights, sidewalks and other street improvements across Sequim.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The sales-tax increase, if approved by voters, would be 0.2 percent, added onto the 8.4 percent already tacked onto non-food items.

The hike could shovel $600,000 into Sequim’s coffers, said Ken Enns of Gray & Osborne, the consultant Sequim hired to study ways the city could foot the bills for street improvements.

The city can reap that money sooner rather than later, if it hurries the measure onto the November ballot, said Councilwoman Susan Lorenzen.

“If we don’t . . . that’s a lot of missed revenue,” she added.

More in News

From left to right, Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding students Krystol Pasecznyk and Scott McNair sand a Prothero Sloop with Sean Koomen, the school’s boat building program director. Koomen said the sanding would take one person a few days. He said the plan is to have 12 people sand it together, which will take a few hours. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Wooden boatbuilding school building ‘Twin Boats’

Students using traditional and cold-moulding construction techniques

Prevailing wage by trade across multiple counties in Washington state.
Prevailing wages are driving up housing

Administrative burden may decrease competition

North Olympic Library System
Rendering of the new Sequim Library, which is currently under construction.
Library system board recognizes top donors

Naming opportunities still available

Port of Port Angeles approves roof rehab projects

McKinley Paper Company moves out of Marine Drive warehouse

Drug takeback day set across Peninsula on Saturday

Law enforcement agencies across the North Olympic Peninsula are poised to take… Continue reading

Public meeting set to meet administrator candidates

Jefferson County will host a public meeting at 5… Continue reading

Interfund loan to pay for Port Townsend meter replacement

City will repay over four years; work likely this winter

Artists to create murals for festival

Five pieces of art to be commissioned for downtown Port Angeles

Clallam assessor’s office to extend reduced hours

The Clallam County assessor’s office is continuing its reduction… Continue reading

Girders to be placed Thursday night

Contractor crews will place four 100-foot bridge girders over a… Continue reading

Cameras to check recycling contents in new program

Olympic Disposal will deploy a system of computerized cameras to… Continue reading

Port Angeles Fire Department responds to a residential structure fire on West 8th Street in Port Angeles. (Jay Cline)
Police: Woman arrested in arson investigation

Niece of displaced family allegedly said house was ‘possessed’