Wenatchee council sends 0.2% sales-tax measure for streets to August ballot after debate over transparency and revenue

The Wenatchee City Council voted to place a ballot proposition before city voters on Aug. 5 asking to impose two‑tenths of 1% in additional sales and use tax for up to 10 years to fund projects in the city’s Transportation Improvement Program, general street maintenance and transportation infrastructure.

City Administrator Laura Gloria told the council the measure would be filed for the August primary and that it is intended to align with the Transportation Benefit District’s purposes. She said the packet’s fiscal estimate showed the additional tax could generate about $4,000,000 per year but later clarified during council questions that each tenth of 1% is expected to bring in roughly $1.5 million, so two tenths would likely yield about $3 million a year.

The item matters because the city’s pavement condition index has fallen in recent years and staff…