Task Force Perks Up Dayton's Center

DAYTON – Have you ever wondered who pays for those gorgeous baskets of flowers that hang in downtown Dayton through the spring and summer? Or who is responsible for the creation of the new playground located next to the Dayton Historic Depot by the caboose?

One part of the answer is the dedicated members of the Dayton Development Task Force and its partner organizations; the other part is – you.

The task force, which has been working to improve downtown Dayton over the last 31 years, is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Donations from local businesses and individuals, as well as grants and certain state tax dollars, have supported its many projects over the years – projects such as the major renovation of Main Street in the 1990s and the creation of the public parking lot on East Commercial Street.

But as the organization continues to do its work in Dayton, it continues to need financial support. Two years ago, the task force became eligible to receive money through the Washington Main Street Tax Incentive Program, which allows community businesses to donate a large percentage of their state Business and Occupation (B&O) tax or Public Utility Tax (PUT) specifically toward the economic development of downtown Dayton.

"We are just a speck on the map when it comes to the state pooling these tax dollars and distributing them to organizations by population," said Betty Lou Crothers, operator of State Farm Insurance in downtown Dayton, and one of the original members of the Task Force.

"This program allows businesses to invest directly into their community," she said. "It really does work that way, and it's really cool."

When business owners go online to the Department of Revenue website, they can click on "Credits and Tax Incentives" and pledge their B&O or PUT tax dollars to the task force and its many planned projects. Once the donation request is approved by the Department of Revenue, businesses are eligible for a tax credit the following year worth 75 percent of the contribution pledged.

This means that if a local business donated $1,000 to the task force before the end of 2015, that business would receive a $750 tax credit on its B&O or PUT taxes in 2016. The tax credit cannot be carried forward, however, and the Department of Revenue does not refund businesses who pledge more than 75 percent of their taxes to the program, according to a flyer provided by the state.

Businesses may pledge money any time during the year; the donation payment is not required until Dec. 31, Crothers said. This allows people to wait until the end of the year to donate, if they need to, and then receive their credit right away, in the following year, she said.

The Main Street Tax Credit Incentive program is a way to guarantee that tax dollars go directly toward local improvement programs through the task force, Crothers said. The task force receives all of the donated funds.

In the first year, the task force received more than $64,000. In 2014, local businesses such as The McGregor Company, Puget Sound Energy, Elk Drug, Banner Bank, Columbia Rural Electric Association, Dayton Mercantile, and the Best Western Hotel donated a total of $88,000. The task force can receive up to $133,000 annually per state limits.

"We just want to really thank all these people and these businesses for their support," Crothers said. "And encourage more people to participate in the program. It's really a cool way to directly support the community."

Dayton Development Task Force Projects:

Completed Projects:

Main Street Improvement

Flour Mill Park

Lewis and Clark Camp Site

Public Parking Lot

Asphalt on Touchet River Dike

Public Art

Liberty Theater Restoration

Kiwanis Playground next to the Depot

Flower Baskets on Main Street

Financial Support of Chamber Projects/Events

Projects in the Works:

Public Restrooms by Kiwanis Playground

Continued Support to Chamber

Flower Baskets on Main Street

Regional Signage Project

Revolving Small Business/Building Repair Loan Fund

2014 Tax-Incentive Donors:

Columbia Rural Electric Association

Banner Bank

Best Western Plus

Puget Sound Energy, Inc.

Elk Drug

Dayton Mercantile

State Farm

The McGregor Company

The Times