Grant County Sheriff seeks sales tax hike for law enforcement

EPHRATA — Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones is seeking voter approval for a three-tenths of one percent sales tax increase to help fund law enforcement in Grant County and upgrade the county’s aging jail.

“Over time, our costs of service have increased,” Jones said. “A lot of counties have done this.”

Jones said the jail, which was designed to hold around 90 people, is holding twice that number, and needs to be expanded or replaced.

According an estimate from the Washington State Auditor, the tax would raise about $5.8 million across the county. However, the revenue from any tax increase — which must go to the voters — would be split, with 60 percent going to the county and 40 percent divided among the cities.

That would give county law enforcement an estimated $3.5 million in additional revenue.

While Jones did not want to estimate what a new jail, or an addition to the existing jail, would cost, he said Franklin County recently built a new, 150-bed jail and remodeled its old jail for around $22 million.

County Commissioner Cindy Carter said the commissioners would vote on a resolution to put the tax increase before the voters, probably on the Feb. 13 ballot.

Several school districts are holding levy votes that day as well.

“It’s something the people want, and we’re putting it on the ballot,” Carter said.

Jones added that while no one likes tax increases, a sales tax hike would have the advantage of being paid by everyone, and not just property owners. Jones also said has been meeting with police chiefs, mayors and city administrators across the county to solicit support for the measure.

At a meeting of the Ephrata City Council on Wednesday, council members were generally supportive of the proposal, but wanted to make sure there was a better accounting of the additional spending proposed, and were also concerned that voters might not like another tax hike.

“I support the cause, I just want to see how this is spent,” said council member Matt Moore. “Is the jail better done with a bond issue?”

“This is another tax increase passed to consumers,” Moore added, noting that many smaller businesses have recently faced steep state-mandated costs, such as an increase in the minimum wage.

“This could generate some ill will from voters,” said city administrator Wes Crago. “Voters may say, ‘I’ve had enough.’”

Crago also said that because Ephrata already has a dedicated two-tenths of a percent sales tax dedicated to law enforcement, the Ephrata sales tax would only rise an additional one-tenth of a percent if the measured passed.

Adams County recently narrowly approved a county-wide, three-tenths of a percent sales tax for law enforcement. If the measure goes before the voters, it only needs 50 percent plus one vote to pass.