Gary Perman says the upcoming vote on the proposed 4% utility tax increase is not a vote for or against our police — it’s a vote for or against yet another financial burden on Camas residents
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
Camas has earned the distinction of being the #1 safest city in Washington in 2024, a testament to the exceptional service we already receive from our police and first responders. I, along with many others, wholeheartedly support our police and appreciate the outstanding job they do every day to protect our community. However, the upcoming vote on the proposed 4% utility tax increase is not a vote for or against our police — it’s a vote for or against yet another financial burden on Camas residents.

This 4% hike would bring the total utility tax increase to 6% — a significant grab by the City of Camas. Worse yet, this tax lacks a ceiling, meaning the city could raise it at any time. Today it’s 4%, but what’s to stop it from climbing to 12% like Battle Ground or 28.9% like Vancouver? With utility costs already rising across the board, this proposition could result in a severe financial strain on many households.
Let’s be clear: voting “no” does not signal a lack of support for our police. A “no” vote is a message to the City of Camas that residents will not tolerate yet another tax that stems from poor budgeting and irresponsible city planning. It’s a call for our city officials to prioritize spending more effectively and to ensure that critical services like public safety are funded without placing undue burdens on taxpayers.
Camas may be the safest city in the state, but it also carries the highest property taxes in Clark County and ranks among the highest in Washington. This isn’t a revenue problem—it’s a spending problem. The city has demonstrated time and again its willingness to introduce new taxes under the guise of necessity, only to funnel the revenue into the general fund without addressing the root issues. For instance, the 2% utility tax introduced in 2023 was pitched as a vital measure but was instead used to establish a precedent for unchecked spending.
Proponents of the current tax increase claim it will cost residents no more than $5 per month, but this is misleading. For a family paying $200 per month in utilities, the proposed 6% tax amounts to $240 per year — and this figure will only grow as utility rates rise. Worse, the city maintains the ability to increase this tax at will, up to 6% per year without a vote of the people, just as Vancouver and Battle Ground have done. The city also put in place a street tax which will raise sales tax .1% and also add $20 per vehicle to renew your license tabs, $40 after 2 years and 2 years later to $50. Coming in April, another surprise to city residents – the city will ask voters to approve a new Fire Tax District at a cost of $1.05 per thousand. That will cost a person with a $800,000 home an additional $840 per year on your property tax bill. If you are a leasor or renter you’ll feel the burden too.
If Camas were to actively collect the more than $1 million owed annually by Washougal for fire services rendered, it could address budget deficits without imposing additional taxes on its residents. Yet, year after year, Camas gives Washougal a pass, forcing our residents to shoulder the financial burden.
A “NO” vote on this tax is not a rejection of public safety. It’s a stand for fiscal responsibility and accountability. Camas deserves better. We need city leaders who will manage our tax dollars wisely, prioritize essential services, and avoid passing the consequences of poor planning onto the residents who already contribute so much to this community.
Gary Perman
Camas
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