Transportation tax renewal to go before City of Sequim voters in November

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 28, 2018

As indicated in January, Sequim city councilors will ask city voters to renew a two-tenths of 1 percent sales tax to support the Transportation Benefit District for another 10 years.

They unanimously approved two resolutions on Monday night at their regular meeting to put the tax renewal before voters on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot, and to create two committees to write pro and con statements for the Voter’s Pamphlet.

Voters originally approved the 10-year tax in November 2009 after it failed narrowly 50.91 percent-49.09 percent in its first attempt in November 2008. The tax helps cover costs of Transportation Improvement Projects, such as rehabilitating roads, building new sidewalks and improving street lighting. City staff said the district’s revenues account supports the city’s street project funding the most at about 29 percent annually from 2011-2017.

City Clerk Karen Kuznek-Reese said the city had until Aug. 7 to pass a resolution to put the tax before voters in November, and to add information to the Voter’s Pamphlet.

City Manager Charlie Bush said even though the Transportation Benefit District’s current 10-year span doesn’t expire until April 2020, to avoid a break in collections they wanted to get approval well in advance of the end date. He said they chose the November 2018 General Election because it’s anticipated to have a larger voter turn out and it’s cheaper to participate than in a special election.

If voters agree to renew the tax at the same rate, it’ll continue the two-tenths of 1 percent sales tax in April 2020 for 10 years.

Kuznek-Reese said early estimates show the cost to the city to place the proposal on the ballot will be around $4,000. She said if the tax renewal fails, funds for transportation projects would need to come from general funds, Real Estate Excise Tax dollars, and/or grants.

City Attorney Kristina Nelson-Gross previously said if the renewal were to fail this year, the city could try again in 2019 until the deadline expires.

In its first year collecting taxes, the Transportation Benefit District collected $314,000 in 2010 and grew to collect more than $700,000 in 2017, which paid $561,000 toward pavement preservation and $100,000 to crack sealing last year. One of its contributions this year includes funding repairs to curbs and sidewalks along North Blake Avenue by Carrie Blake Community Park.

Since 2010, funds paid for dozens of projects including overlaying River Road, reconstructing pavement on McCurdy Road, North Seventh Avenue and West Prairie Street.

City staff said they estimate about two-thirds of the district’s revenue comes from residents living outside of city limits.

Tax committees

City staff said they seek at least three people for each pros and cons committee to write and agree upon statements for the Voter’s Pamphlet.

For more information on the Transportation Benefit District and/or to apply to a committee call 360-683-4908 or visit the Sequim Civic Center at 152 W. Cedar St.

City staff said they plan to host information sessions leading up to November.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.