Bellingham City Council members approved a measure authorizing a sales tax for public safety. Such a tax would cost Bellingham shoppers about 10 cents on a $100 purchase. It’s estimated to raise about $3.9 million for a range of public safety services in 2026.
“If we do not implement this tax, we will have to come up with another way to close that gap,” Deputy City Administrator Forrest Longman told the council during a committee discussion Monday afternoon. “We’ve picked all the low-hanging fruit already.”
HOUSE BILL 2015
House Bill 2015 is a statewide public safety funding law that allows qualifying cities and counties to impose a new 0.1% sales and use tax option to fund certain public safety efforts. The legislation also creates a $100 million grant program that is available only to local and tribal law enforcement agencies that can demonstrate compliance with state law.
Sales tax must be used for criminal justice purposes, while the grant can be used for supporting hiring, training, and retaining officers, as well as community-based criminal justice programs in partnership with law enforcement agencies. Jurisdictions that want to impose the 0.1% sales and use tax must meet the grant criteria.
Whether a jurisdiction adopts the sales tax, applies for the grant, or does both, the eligibility criteria are the same. Law enforcement agencies must meet specific policy, training, and data reporting standards outlined in HB 2015 before funding is approved.
DOES THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM QUALIFY TO IMPOSE THE TAX?
Yes, Bellingham is on track to meet all the requirements for imposing the tax by Oct. 3rd. That’s when enough police officers will have completed training in de-escalation techniques, which is among the requirements under the state law that allows cities to impose the tax.
My opinion? Imposing the tax is a step in the right direction. The tax can be used for several programs that fall under the label of public safety. Examples of other programs include domestic violence, public defenders, re-entry work for offenders and crime-reduction measures.
Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.
