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Edmonds holds public hearing on cultural access sales tax; supporters and business owners weigh costs and benefits
Summary
Edmonds city staff presented a proposed local cultural access sales tax at a public hearing Aug. 19, describing a state‑authorized 0.1% tax estimated to generate about $1.3 million a year for nonprofit cultural programming and school access; supporters urged adoption for arts education and tourism benefits, while some business owners warned higher sales taxes could drive customers to lower‑tax jurisdictions.
Todd Tatum, Edmonds community, culture and economic development director, and staff presented the state‑authorized Cultural Access Program at a public hearing Aug. 19 and recommended the council approve an ordinance that would authorize a local 0.1% sales tax for cultural access and direct the Edmonds Arts Commission to return with an implementation plan by June 30, 2026.
Why it matters: Tatum said the tax is intended to expand access to nonprofit arts, heritage, science and cultural programming and create a mandated school access program for pre‑K–12 students. He told council staff estimate the tax would generate approximately $1,300,000 in revenue and allow up to 10% of receipts to fund program administration and a city cultural services program.
Public testimony: Supporters included Karen Chase, vice president and legislative representative of the Edmonds School Board, who said local levies are already being used to backfill basic education and urged the council to adopt the tax to restore enrichment for students. David Brewster and representatives of the Edmonds Driftwood Players and other nonprofits described arts organizations’ community and economic impact. Tanya Sharp of Spark Creativity said the program would help scale arts education programs into more schools.
Opposition: Eric Nelson, owner of Linwood Honda in Edmonds, spoke against additional sales tax increases, saying Edmonds already has among the highest municipal sales tax rates in the state and that small increments can shift large retail transactions (notably car purchases) to lower‑tax jurisdictions. Nelson said higher sales taxes “cost me sales every week.”
Council process and next steps: Tatum recommended the council place the ordinance on the September agenda for possible approval and directed staff to work with the Edmonds Arts Commission and community stakeholders on an implementation proposal and program design to return by June 30, 2026. The public hearing closed the same night; council did not take a final vote on the ordinance Aug. 19.
Ending: The item remains before the council for possible action in September; if adopted, state law caps the program at seven years and permits renewal, and the city would begin an implementation planning process with stakeholder input.
