Tumwater committee hears mixed revenue signals after national uncertainty; April sales tax dips

TUMWATER, Wash. — At its May 23 Budget & Finance Committee meeting, staff presented a monthly financial update that framed Tumwater’s local revenue picture against national economic shifts, noted a weak April sales-tax receipt, and reported stronger business-and-occupation (B&O) taxes and property-tax collections.

The presentation, given by Troy (staff member), opened with national context — including recent tariff actions, falling consumer confidence and a Moody’s downgrade — and then reviewed Tumwater-specific data showing month-to-month volatility in sales-tax receipts and stronger year-to-date B&O and property-tax collections.

Troy said the economy entered 2025 with a “soft landing” but recent tariff actions have created market uncertainty. “Markets don’t like uncertainty, and neither do consumers,” Troy said. “Tariffs…are highly inflationary policies. That’s not a political statement. That is just an economic fact.”

The local financial highlights he presented…