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Issaquah council discusses 0.1% public-safety sales tax, grant rules and staffing uses
Summary
Council members discussed whether to add a one‑tenth percent public‑safety sales tax that would bring roughly $2.2 million annually and make the city eligible for state grant funds that must be used primarily for sworn officer recruitment and retention and for criminal‑justice services.
Issaquah City Council members on July 12 reviewed a newly authorized public‑safety sales tax and the state grant funding tied to it, and asked staff about who would qualify for the grants and how the city might use any revenue.
The council was told the new one‑tenth percent tax would generate about $2.2 million a year and that state law requires at least 50% of local receipts to “be used solely for attracting and retaining additional commissioned law enforcement.” Chief Schwann said the remaining 50% must be spent on criminal justice purposes such as domestic‑violence advocates, behavioral‑health services and legal support.
Council members asked whether the grants could pay for existing needs such as public defenders and behavioral‑health services; staff said those uses are allowed within the second 50% bucket but that grant eligibility requires the city first enact the local sales tax. Chief Schwann added the city already follows several of the law’s requirements, such as academy training timelines for newly commissioned officers and updated policies on use of force and civil protection orders. “At least 50% must be used solely for attracting and retaining additional commissioned law enforcement,” the chief said.
Council members also discussed practical tradeoffs. Some members said the city is nearly fully staffed in sworn ranks and could instead use grant funding to expand officer headcount beyond current budgets or fund retention payments. Others raised concerns that adding new ongoing positions funded by a grant can leave the city with long‑term fiscal obligations if the grant later disappears.
Council members asked whether any of the public‑safety money could buy equipment such as plate readers or drones; staff said the statute and grant rules emphasize staffing, but that the non‑staff half of allowed uses could include some equipment and behavioral‑health services subject to state approval.
Deputy Council President noted that King County and other local jurisdictions were signaling support for the tax; staff recommended including the proposal in the mid‑biennium budget package so the council can consider public hearing and ordinance steps this fall. If enacted by the statutory deadline to access grant funds, the city would also become eligible for the state grant pool that accompanies the tax.
Council members asked staff to return with more detail on likely uses, the cost to sustain any grant‑funded positions if the grant ended, and how revenues would interact with other anticipated budget pressures.
The council did not take a final vote at the retreat; staff said they would place the measure in the mid‑biennium budget discussions and return with specifics and options for formal council action.
