Council votes to submit application to qualify for 0.1% criminal-justice sales tax; further decisions deferred

Snoqualmie City Council voted to submit an application to qualify for a local option sales-and-use tax of one-tenth of one percent to fund criminal-justice purposes, and the council split the decision so that adoption of the tax itself will require a later, separate council action. The vote instructs staff to seek qualification while the Finance & Administration committee prepares recommended spending priorities. The council's discussion referenced recently enacted state legislation enabling eligible jurisdictions to authorize the tax. Councilor Jim Holloway moved to limit action to submitting the qualification materials and to return the question of enactment and expenditure uses to the Finance & Administration committee; the motion carried. Staff noted the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) reviews applications and that CJTC has a 45-day review window for submitted qualification materials. Councilors raised concerns about tax layering with King County's recent approval of a similar 0.1% levy and requested detailed spending plans for how the city would use any revenue. Councilor Wotton said she was "not really comfortable" until the council had more information about uses. Chief Ferrisi and staff indicated they could submit the qualification materials quickly; staff said they had gathered most supporting documentation and could submit the application promptly. When the council voted to submit for qualification, Councilor Cotton recorded a dissenting vote; other council members voted in favor. The council did not enact the tax at this meeting; a subsequent council decision will be required to impose the tax and determine allocations if the city qualifies.