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County approves placing WESCOM emergency communications sales tax on the August ballot
Summary
Walla Walla County commissioners approved a resolution and instructed staff to prepare ballot language authorizing a sales and use tax for emergency communications (E-911). Commissioners discussed outreach, committee deadlines and cost-sharing for ballot advertising.
Walla Walla County commissioners voted April 7 to move forward with placing a sales-and-use tax proposition on the August ballot to fund WESCOM, the countywide 9-1-1 emergency communications system.
Esther Click, manager for Westcom (WESCOM), told the board the proposed tax would fund infrastructure, equipment and operations for the county’s emergency communications — the radio and dispatch systems that serve law enforcement, fire and EMS. Click said WESCOM currently relies heavily on user fees charged to local public-safety agencies and that a voter-approved sales tax would broaden the payer base to visitors and nonresident users of county services.
Commissioners discussed timing and requirements: under state law, placing the tax on the ballot requires a county resolution and the formation of official “for” and “against” committees; three items — (1) the resolution, (2) named committees, and (3) any interlocal signatories — must be filed by the state deadline of May 2. County staff told commissioners they will prepare the resolution and return it to the board; the board selected Commissioner Gunnar Fulmer to work with staff in assembling committee advertisements and coordinating signatories.
Commissioners and presenters emphasized outreach. Commissioner Bertha Clayton said the public must understand what the funding request pays for, noting seasonal tourism increases demand on the center. Commissioner Todd Kimball said the measure would “let the voters decide” and that the tax can replace some property-tax funding currently used for the service, so the funding source would shift rather than strictly increase local property taxes.
The board approved a motion asking the clerk to prepare a resolution authorizing a proposition to county voters regarding a sales-and-use tax for Emergency Services Communication Systems (E-911) to be placed on the ballot. The motion passed 3-0.
Click told the board WESCOM will cover the cost of placing the measure on the ballot, and the 9-1-1 manager said staff will conduct an education campaign if the board moves the measure forward.
County staff will prepare the required documents and will form the legal advertising to solicit “for” and “against” committee filings. Commissioner Fulmer volunteered to work with staff on committee advertising and outreach.
