A ballot measure which would impose a .1% retail sales tax in Clark County to fund a body-worn and vehicle dashboard camera program for the sheriff’s department has some Battle Ground city councilors concerned over how it will affect their own funding priorities.
During a virtual meeting on May 23, government representatives from Clark County cities heard from county officials about the proposed tax. The tax is up for a vote in the August primary election, and is a second attempt by the county to pass a tax intended to fund the program.
The county ran a similar measure in November that failed with only 42% approval. Clark County Council Chair Karen Bowerman noted the November measure would have directed revenues specifically toward jails and juvenile detention facilities, and would have freed up money the county was already spending on jails to use for the body camera program.
Clark County Finance Director Mark Gassaway said a public safety sales tax has a much broader use than what was proposed in November. Gassaway said the county funds could likely support the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in both its patrol and corrections divisions, alongside the intended funding of the body camera program.
Gassaway said if enacted the .1% sales tax would collect an estimated $12 million annually.
Unlike the tax proposed in November, the one now under consideration would share the funding between Clark County and the cities in the county. The county would receive 60% of the funds collected while cities would get the remaining 40%, which would be distributed on a percapita basis.
Based on population, Battle Ground is estimated to receive about $368,000, Ridgefield would get roughly $183,000, La Center would receive about $65,000 and Yacolt would get roughly $32,000, according to numbers provided at the meeting.
For the cities, Gassaway said the revenues could be used for other public safety resources like fire protection and emergency medical services contracts, outside of just police.
A number of councilors from Battle Ground expressed concerns over the measure, ranging from the timing of the vote to what benefits the tax would have for the cities.
“I’m thinking it’s perhaps the wrong time to go about doing this,” Councilor Adrian Cortes said. Cortes said it seems like the county is “trying to skirt some of the more difficult choices that they need to make,” pointing to how Camas was able to fund its body camera program on its own without a tax.
“We would like to, but we don’t have that amount in (our) general fund,” Bowerman said.
Clark County Manager Kathleen Otto added the county’s expenses have exceeded revenues “for quite some time.”
Gassaway estimated that about 40% of sales tax revenue is generated in unincorporated parts of the county, with the remaining 60% coming from cities in the county.
“So the cities are the generators,” Battle Ground Mayor Philip Johnson said.
Johnson questioned what benefit the tax would have for the city since Battle Ground has its own police force and already pays for its jail services.
“Of the $400,000-plus you will take from the city of Battle Ground, what benefit is there to the citizens?” Johnson asked.
Cities aren’t able to opt out of the tax if it is approved by voters. Other issues councilors raised include the lack of a sunset clause for the tax.
“I think having it in perpetuity is kind of a big ask,” Ridgefield Mayor Jennifer Lindsay said.
Lindsay asked for a breakdown of what portion of tax revenues would be used for what purpose as the county moves to provide more information on what the ballot measure would do.
Bowerman said the county has one-time funds to use for the purchase of the cameras. The funds from the tax would primarily be used to keep the program running, given the resources needed for public records requests associated with the footage.
Battle Ground City Councilor Shane Bowman felt the city had been brought into the discussion too late into the process.
“My biggest concern is we’re having a meeting now to discuss with the cities … plans that you’ve already made,” Bowman said.
Bowman noted Battle Ground had been discussing whether to implement its own sales tax, which would be used for city street maintenance. With the public safety sales tax going to a vote in August, “it would be crazy for us to do November now” for a transportation sales tax, he said.
“We’ve fully funded police. We’ve made that a priority and we’ve done that. Now we’re working on roads,” Bowman said.
