Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Tax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee clears resolution allowing City of Portland to seek local sales tax increase on referendum
Summary
The Sumner County legislative committee approved a resolution allowing the City of Portland to put a local-option sales tax increase on a municipal referendum; the measure would not increase countywide taxes if approved only by the city.
The Sumner County legislative committee on Oct. 14, 2025 approved a resolution allowing the City of Portland to place a local‑option sales tax increase on a municipal referendum.
A commissioner clarified the measure would allow the City of Portland to ask voters to increase its local option sales tax from 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent on a referendum. Legal counsel advised the committee that, if structured as written, the change would apply only to the municipality and would not automatically increase countywide taxes. The committee noted the city had pursued the same referendum in 2020 and that the prior effort did not pass.
A motion to approve the resolution as drafted in the meeting packet was made and seconded; the meeting record shows the committee voted in favor. "If the municipality wants to do it, then let their people decide," a commissioner said during the discussion.
Committee members asked whether the city had contacted the county about how it would use any proceeds; staff said that under the relevant will/appropriation for the library building an appropriation mechanism exists but that detailed city intentions were not on file and staff could follow up. The committee approved the resolution, clearing the municipal question to appear before Portland voters.
