Clallam County residents and arts leaders press commissioners on proposed cultural access sales tax; opponents call for vote, metrics

At the March 25, 2025 Clallam County Board of Commissioners meeting in Port Angeles, cultural leaders and residents both urged and opposed a proposed county cultural access sales tax, pressing the board for clear metrics, transparency on how revenue would be spent and whether the county should put the measure to a public vote.

Supporters said the tax — described during public comment as a one-tenth of 1% incremental sales tax — would fund arts, science and heritage programs that contribute to local jobs and tourism. Carrie Chance, director of the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts and Port Angeles Concerts on the Pier, cited a statewide Department of Commerce figure and said, “the creative sector in Washington contributed $119,000,000,000 to the GDP of the state. It's 19.6% of Washington's total economic production,” and argued that dedicated local funding would allow cultural organizations to plan, maintain programming and protect local cultural history.

Steve Raider Ginsburg, executive and artistic director of Field Arts and Events Hall, said the proposal is about access and youth opportunities more than about art for its own sake: “There are many, many organizations that really want to serve the public in greater capacity, and this will serve our public in a greater capacity to allow our youth to dream… and to give people a place to move back to.” Other speakers in favor, including Laurel Hargis and Amanda Bacon, described quality-of-life and youth-development benefits tied to cultural programming and volunteering by local artists.

Opponents warned against a county-imposed tax without a public vote and urged measurable performance indicators. Jacob Segars (District 3) said commissioners had “lost your way” and criticized the idea of raising taxes when residents face affordability pressures. Eric Farmer of Swin questioned economic claims made during earlier discussions, saying, “Where do these figures come from… it doesn't make any sense at all.” Jeff Tozer (Jamestown Road) urged that any new tax be placed before voters and pointed to what he described as inconsistent commissioner actions on other county priorities.

Several commenters — including David Herbland, who has participated in county surveys — pushed the board for clearer metrics tied to the county’s tourism master plan, which they said had identified cultural access and events as part of destination-strength variables and year‑round vibrancy goals. Herbland told commissioners that the tourism master plan “calls for art, cultural and tribal heritage experience development, and festival and event development,” and said cultural institutions are already counted in planning documents the county has cited.

Commissioners did not take a vote on the cultural access tax at the March 25 meeting. Multiple speakers referenced a work session held the previous day; members of the public asked the board to define the proposed program’s scope, accountability measures and whether the county would place a tax before voters.

The discussion highlights a divide between business- and tourism‑oriented arguments for stable local funding for culture and skepticism from residents worried about new taxes and the need for measurable outcomes. The board’s next formal steps on the item were not decided at the March 25 meeting.