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Auditor warns new state tax on personal services will raise county costs; clerk outlines 805-box scanning backlog and heavy caseload
Summary
Carolyn, Cowlitz County auditor, said state tax changes that make many personal services taxable will raise county costs — the county’s justice-security contract alone could add about $45,000 a year — while Stacy, clerk of superior court, said the clerk’s office handled more than 23,000 hearings in 2024 and has 805 boxes awaiting digitization.
Carolyn (last name not given), Cowlitz County auditor, told the Board during the budget workshop that a change in Washington state tax rules treating many “personal services” as taxable will increase costs for county operations and vendors. She said some existing contracts remain exempt until they expire, but that new and renewed contracts could be taxable.
Carolyn warned departments to watch for increases in recurring bills and said one concrete example is justice and security services: “So just on the whole justice security alone, it's gonna add about $45,000 a year to our bill,” a figure she gave when discussing how taxable treatment of personal services affects existing county contracts.
Carolyn also discussed association dues and representation. She said the county pays association…
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