Battle Ground adopts 0.1% public-safety sales tax to fund police
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Summary
The Battle Ground City Council unanimously adopted ordinance 2025-17 to impose a 0.1% sales and use tax dedicated to public safety beginning April 1, 2026. Council debate centered on whether the revenue should be strictly devoted to police officers, equipment and training.
The Battle Ground City Council voted unanimously Nov. 17 to adopt ordinance 2025-17, a 0.1% sales-and-use tax to support public safety that will take effect April 1, 2026. The council approved the ordinance on a roll-call vote with all seven members voting yes.
City finance staff presented the ordinance as a tool to pay for two additional police officers, equipment, training and related costs. Finance staff noted recent budget updates including personnel cost adjustments and the addition of $8,000,000 in general-fund support for street preservation.
Deputy Mayor Bowman pressed for narrow use of the new revenue. "I think it's important that it gets used for police and for police services," Bowman said during debate, urging the council to dedicate funds to officers, vehicles, training and retention. Other councilmembers echoed the need to avoid using the new revenue to supplant existing police funding.
Some councilmembers also discussed whether the council should send the measure to a public vote or conduct another community survey; several members said a prior scientific survey already showed residents prioritized public safety and streets. One councilmember cautioned that the 0.1% would not fully sustain three officer positions without additional funding; staff noted potential federal grant support for equipment (including a pending federal grant for radios) could offset some costs.
Mayor Troy McCoy summarized the practical effect: the tax creates a recurring, more sustainable revenue stream than one‑time grants to support public safety operations. The council authorized adoption with the expectation that annual budgeting decisions would determine exact allocations.
The ordinance was moved and seconded on the floor and carried by roll call (Councilmember Davis: yes; Kuipers: yes; Ferrer: yes; DeRozier: yes; Overholser: yes; Bowman: yes; Mayor McCoy: yes).
