|
|
| County to seek sales tax hike to help fund jail upgrades |
| By yakima-herald.com - David Lester |
| Published: 03/07/2012 |
|
YAKIMA, Wash. -- Yakima County commissioners who have campaigned consistently against tax increases are going to ask for one. Commissioners decided Tuesday to place before county voters a one-tenth of a cent sales tax increase to resolve a budget shortfall in the Department of Corrections and pay for security upgrades to reduce threats of violence in the 27-year-old jail downtown at North Front Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The proposed increase, to appear on the August primary ballot, would raise an estimated $2.8 million a year, the amount the county needs. If approved, the increase would boost the sales tax in the unincorporated area and most cities to 8 cents on a $1 purchase. The sales tax would rise to 8.2 cents in the city of Union Gap and 8.3 cents in the city of Yakima. Commissioners said they would eliminate the sales tax as soon as it is no longer needed. The need, however, could last 10 years. "I'm not happy about ever asking for a tax increase. The time has come," said Chairman Rand Elliott near the conclusion of a rare, televised study session at Yakima City Hall. "We are up against the wall. Something has to give. We are asking the help of the taxpayers to get us through this crisis." Commissioner Mike Leita called the request distasteful. "That is where we are," he said. Read More. |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
The directory includes the biographies of judges presidentially appointed to serve during good behavior since 1789 on the U.S. district courts, U.S. courts of appeals, Supreme Court of the United States, and U.S. Court of International Trade, as well as the former U.S. circuit courts, Court of Claims, U.S. Customs Court, and U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Also included are judges who received presidential recess appointments to the above named courts but were not confirmed by the Senate to serve during good behavior. The Waco Federal Judge is experienced in patent litigation and starting to become the go-to district for intellectual property cases. The appointment of Waco’s new federal judge, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrows the venue for patent cases and Waco’s home in the federal Western District of Texas have combined into a perfect storm that could drastically alter Waco’s legal landscape.