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Council creates subcommittee to study street‑repair funding after debate over half‑cent sales tax
Summary
After discussing a proposed half‑cent sales tax, councilmembers Dirk Voss and Councilmember Pitts proposed a two‑member subcommittee with staff to study funding options and prioritized streets; the council signaled support to explore alternatives before placing a tax measure before voters.
Councilmembers Dirk Voss and Councilmember Pitts brought forward a discussion on April 7 about a potential half‑cent sales tax to fund street improvements. Voss said residents repeatedly raise road conditions and he had informally surveyed community members about support for a half‑cent measure, but he proposed pivoting to a study approach.
Voss and Pitts proposed a council subcommittee (the two of them) working with public‑works staff and the deputy city manager to develop a comprehensive pavement‑management plan, identify priority corridors for repaving and slurry seal, and explore funding mechanisms and bonding options (Measure A, gas tax, vehicle registration fees, bonding capacity) before recommending a tax measure only as a last resort.
Members of the public who spoke included Brad Anderson, who commended staff for vetting options and favored exploring details before pursuing new taxes, and Charles Lance, who said he supports a modest sales‑tax increase to fund roads if needed. Several councilmembers expressed reluctance to place a sales tax on the ballot immediately, citing recent ballot measures and residents’ tax burdens, and indicated support for the subcommittee approach.
The council agreed to return the item to a future agenda and directed the proposed subcommittee to gather options, priorities and financing details to present to the full council.
