Sumner council forms Transportation Benefit District, eyes 0.1% sales tax to fund roads

The Sumner City Council on July 21 voted to form a citywide Transportation Benefit District (TBD) by adopting Ordinance 2931, beginning a three-step state process that could allow the city to use a 0.1% sales tax to fund road and sidewalk construction and maintenance.

Communications Director Carmen Palmer told the council the ordinance creates the district and specifies the 0.1% sales tax option the council preferred, saying the tax “is anticipated to generate between 800 and 850,000 per year for transportation, construction, and maintenance,” and that the tax is renewable after 10 years. Palmer said the TBD would follow city limits and that forming the district is the first of three state‑outlined steps: form the district, assume leadership, then set funding.

Council members did not request further public comment at that moment because a public hearing had been held on July 7. The council subsequently approved a related resolution (No. 1728) setting an Aug. 4 public hearing on assuming leadership of the TBD; if the council assumes leadership it would conduct TBD business during regular council meetings rather than through a separate board. The ordinance was adopted on a roll‑call vote and passed unanimously.

Palmer and council members framed the TBD as a way to create stable funding for residential street repairs — work she said grants typically do not prioritize — and as an alternative to local improvement districts that place the full cost on impacted property owners. She also reported modest public engagement for the webpage and said staff will return with the funding step later in the state process.

Next steps: the council will consider assuming leadership of the TBD at the Aug. 4 hearing and later address funding specifics and any ballot or public-notice requirements as required by state law.