Washington County commissioners set 1/4-cent sales tax referendum for March 3 primary, approve education spending

Washington County commissioners voted unanimously on Dec. 2 to ask voters whether to adopt a 1/4-cent local option sales tax and approved an accompanying budget amendment to pay for voter education.

Chair D. Cole Phelps said staff is looking to use potential revenue for “economic development, hospital/pension stabilization, and EMS system stabilization,” but County Manager and County Attorney Curtis Potter told the board the county cannot legally tie the revenue to specific uses. Potter said the referendum has been on the ballot twice before and that if it fails in the primary it cannot be placed on the general election ballot this year.

Commissioner Riddick moved to direct the Washington County Board of Elections to hold the referendum during the March 3, 2020 primary and to authorize staff to prepare an educational campaign; Commissioner Walker seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Potter said the county will present balanced information and asked staff to research what neighboring counties did when their referendums succeeded. He asked staff to provide guidance to commissioners about permissible public remarks. Commissioner Walker suggested using “bold red letters” in outreach materials to emphasize that the measure is not a property tax increase.

The board also approved Budget Amendment #2020-052, described by Potter as primarily funding marketing and outreach for the referendum. Potter said he has asked staff member Ms. Rouse to research successful campaigns in surrounding counties and to present findings at the January meeting.

The vote leaves the referendum on the March 3 primary ballot; the board did not adopt a binding spending plan for the proceeds and discussed only broad priorities for messaging.