The discussion will include topics such as an overview of the Public Safety Sales Tax, estimated revenues, information regarding body cameras and alternatives to incarceration
VANCOUVER – The Clark County Council approved placing a Public Safety Sales Tax on the August primary ballot. If approved by the voters, sales tax in Clark County would increase by one-tenth of 1 percent, or one penny for every $10 spent. The tax will be used to fund law and justice expenses, including, but not limited to, body worn and dash camera programs, staffing for the Sheriff’s Office needed for jail bed expansion and other expenses.
A public conversation on the measure is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thu., June 23. The event will air on CVTV channel 23/323 and www.cvtv.org. Residents also can join the hybrid meeting via phone and online by following the instructions on the county’s website. For those wishing to attend in person, the meeting will be in the sixth-floor hearing room in the Public Service Center at 1300 Franklin St.
County staff, leaders and members of the law and justice community, including the Sheriff, Superior Court and District Court Judges will attend the event. The discussion will include topics such as an overview of the Public Safety Sales Tax, estimated revenues, information regarding body cameras and alternatives to incarceration.
Community members with specific questions about the sales tax are encouraged to email Rebecca Messinger at Rebecca.messinger@clark.wa.gov.
There may be an opportunity for some questions to be discussed during the event, and written responses will be provided to those who submitted questions.
Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.
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I guess I don’t understand… the tax is to be used for body- and dash-cams. Yet, it is readily admitted that the proposed tax (1/10 of 1 percent) exceeds the projected costs. So why isn’t the proposal for, say, 1/12 of 1 percent? Why can’t the proposal be fine-tuned to address the specific need?
As it now stands, it seems to be yet another request by the County to “give us more and more of your money; we’ll figure out a way to spend it.”
For me, the current proposal results in my giving the County money for the cams AND some extra money for the County to play with, as they desire.
Don’t know about you, but my property assessment arrived last week and I’m looking at an additional $600-$700 next year. This kind of tax-increase must be reined in. I’ll be needing to cut money elsewhere from my budget in order to pay taxes. What has the County done to cut wasteful spending? Yet the County is asking for even more!?!?
I’m a NO vote, as it is presently proposed, for purely financial reasons. I agree that cams are needed, but I’m against the current proposal.
Body cameras and dash cameras are a must, but they MUST do it within their already excessive budget. If that means cutting other programs that are unnecessary than that’s a win-win.