Council Weighs Taxes For Streets

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council heard public comment on a transportation benefit district last Wednesday night and members said they would rather increase sales tax than add $10 to annual car tab fees .

No action was taken on the taxing district Wednesday after more than one hour of public comment.

The city is weighing two taxing options to boost the amount of funding to go to street improvement and repairs. The first option is to add $10 to annual car tab fees for city residents. The second option is to raise sales tax within the city one tenth of 1 percent. The car tab fees could be passed by the council, but the sales tax increase would need to be approved by a vote of the people.

City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe said the reason the city needs more money for the street fund is because other revenue sources from the state level are being eliminated. More than five years ago, the city would receive an allotted amount of money to repair streets. Now, the city has to compete with Prescott and Walla Walla for street money. Hinchliffe said because Waitsburg is so much smaller than Walla Walla, it is at a competitive disadvantage.

The money raised through the car tab fee or sales tax increase would pay for crack sealing and chip sealing on the city's streets, totaling 11 miles of road. Hinchliffe said it costs $27,000 to chip seal one-half mile of road, so the preventative work is expensive.

There was plenty of public comment from citizens in attendance Wednesday night.

Former City Councilman Ken Lenhart said he was opposed to the car tab fee but not the sales tax increase. He said the sales tax fee is justifiable, but the car tab fee would unfairly tax those within city limits with more than one verhicle. He understood that the car tab was easier to bring money into the city for the street fund, but urged the council to decide for the sales tax increase.

"I understand the city needs to make things work," Lenhart said.

Jim Burres said the city needs to not tax residents to improve streets, but find the money in the city's budget.

" The town is hurting," Burres said. :You have to live within your budget and I don't think you're trying too hard. You can't nickel and dime us because of these little problems."

Burres also expressed concern that if the residents do vote to increase sales tax to benefit streets, they will later vote no on ballot measures that benefit schools and hospitals because they can't afford to support other entities.

Councilman Scott Nettles said he agreed with those who commented on the car tabs and that they are not a great option. He defended the need to fund city streets and said the reason Waitsburg has better streets than Walla Walla and Dayton is because the city has been maintaining them properly over the years.

Councilman Karl Newell said he owns six vehicles and does not want to increase car tabs. Councilman Marty Dunn felt the same way. Dunn said the sales tax increase is a better idea because it won't only tax city residents but also visitors who drive on city streets and shop in Waitsburg during the warmer months.

But what if the residents do not approve the sales tax increase?

Dunn said the city would then have to look at the budget and find the money.

The issue of taxing residents to increase the street funs will continue to be discussed at future meetings.