Tumwater staff to place Transportation Benefit District renewal, add sidewalks to eligible projects

Tumwater city staff announced plans Jan. 14 to place a renewal measure for the cityTransportation Benefit District (TBD) 0.2% sales tax on the April 22, 2025 ballot and to expand TBD-eligible projects to include standalone sidewalk work and items in the cityADA transition plan.

The proposal is designed to maintain the citystreet-funding stream that has financed pavement maintenance and leveraged state and federal grants. City staff said the TBD has generated more than $19.2 million in TBD proceeds and, when combined with grants leveraged using TBD as local match, more than $25 million in transportation investment over the past decade.

City transportation planner Brandon (staff member) told the council the renewal would not raise the current sales tax rate; it would renew the existing 0.2% sales tax and requires a simple majority to pass. He said the city projects more than $35 million in TBD revenue over the next 10 years if renewed and that the TBD has helped the city win grant matches that would otherwise be difficult to secure.

Brandon described a single substantive change staff will ask the council to include in the ballot actionlanguage: allow standalone sidewalk projects and any projects listed in the ADA transition plan to be funded directly by TBD revenue, rather than requiring sidewalk work to be a component of larger pavement projects. He said the change is intended to increase the cityability to deliver pedestrian-accessibility improvements and to make the sidewalk program more competitive for external grants.

The council was told the procedural steps will include a public hearing next week before the council considers a resolution to place the measure on the April ballot. Brandon also said the council will decide whether the city or the county will select supporting and opposing committees for the ballot measure and explained that TBD revenue would pay the election costs if the measure is TBD-eligible.

Brandon noted that the TBDsales tax spreads the cost to people who shop in Tumwater as well as residents, which he framed as a fairness point when the funded roads are used by nonresidents. He summarized program accomplishments and the risks of not renewing: pavement condition gains since the TBD began could deteriorate without the local match the tax provides, and the citywould have less ability to leverage state and federal grants.

If the council approves placing the measure on the ballot, staff said they will hold the required public hearing and return to the council with a final resolution and any supporting materials prior to formal placement on the April 22 ballot.