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Island County commissioners adopt 0.1% law-and-justice sales tax in 2-1 vote
Summary
Island County commissioners on Dec. 1 approved Ordinance C64-25 to impose an additional 0.1% sales-and-use tax for criminal justice purposes, citing rising public defense costs and an expected implementation in spring 2026; the measure passed 2-1 after public comment and debate over supplanting existing funds.
Island County commissioners voted 2 to 1 on Dec. 1 to adopt Ordinance C64-25, imposing an additional 0.1% county sales-and-use tax dedicated to law-and-justice purposes.
The tax, authorized under state statute cited in the presentation as RCW 82.14.050, includes statutory reporting requirements for the county budget director and the sheriff. County staff said the tax will be implemented on the earliest date allowed under law, likely April 1, 2026, and will appear in current-expense revenue projections that helped the board balance the 2026 budget.
Budget staffer Kevin McCrae summarized the proposal to the board as "a sales and…
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