The Goldendale City Council voted to adopt Resolution 7-47 authorizing the county auditor to place a proposed local sales and use tax increase of 0.1% on the ballot for public safety and criminal-justice purposes and fire protection purposes.

The measure is intended to raise local revenue for police and fire services. The ordinance committee recommended an allocation split of 80% for the police department and 20% for the fire department; council members also noted that 15% of any revenue, by law, would go to the county.

During discussion, council members asked whether the ballot language must lock in the 80/20 split or whether the wording could remain broader (for “police and fire”) to allow future flexibility. A council member said they would ask the city attorney to confirm whether the split must be specified on the ballot and to report back by email.

A motion to adopt Resolution 7-47 was made and seconded. The motion carried; one council member, Ellie, recorded an abstention.

The next steps are administrative: the county auditor will receive the resolution to place the measure on the ballot, and the city attorney will clarify whether the ballot must state the proposed internal allocation.

Details from the meeting: resolution text identifies a local sales-and-use tax increase of one-tenth of one percent and directs the county auditor to place the question before voters. Council discussion did not change the proposed rate or the committee’s recommended split; the attorney will advise whether the ballot statement can be broader than the committee recommendation.