The ballots are arriving! In addition to school board, city council, and other positions, Benton County voters are being asked to extend the Public Safety Sales Tax.
A decade ago, Benton County voters approved a three-tenths of one percent sales tax to improve public safety. According to the “Explanatory Statement” in the Voters’ Guide, the tax money pays for fifty-five police officers and sheriffs deputies, four deputy prosecutors, and an added superior court judge and support staff.
The tax also provides money for ‘special courts’ like the successful drug court with the potential for funding other similar courts for veterans and those living with mental illness.
The Columbia Basin Badger Club’s mission is to promote civil discourse by providing public forums on the important issues of the day. This is one of those issues. On the face of it this looks like a fairly simple proposition. We’ve been paying this tax at this rate for ten years. The proponents are not asking us to raise the rate, just to make the tax permanent.
There is no charge for Badger Club members. Nonmembers will pay $5.
Please register HERE |