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City staff brief council on Transportation Benefit District finances ahead of possible sales‑tax measure
Summary
City staff presented the history, projects and finances of the Transportation Benefit District and said they will draft a resolution to place a TBD sales‑tax renewal on a future ballot; a resident urged more local safety and street repairs during public comment.
City staff updated the Chehalis City Council on the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) on April 13 during a public hearing and informational presentation, and said staff will prepare a resolution to place a TBD sales‑tax renewal before voters.
Sheena, a city staff presenter, summarized the program’s purpose and finances, saying the TBD was established in 2014 and ratified by voters with a 0.2% sales tax in 2017 for a 10‑year term. She said the report the council received covers activity through fiscal year 2025 and lists total revenues of $15,698,987.60 and roughly $11.3 million in sales‑tax receipts. "Without the program, we will be able to complete fewer projects," Sheena said, urging continued use of TBD funds to leverage grant funding and to support street preservation, safety improvements, ADA upgrades and sidewalk projects.
Lance, a project presenter, described completed and planned projects the TBD supported, citing investments in Main Street overlays, National Avenue repairs and sidewalk/ADA work including two phases of 13th Street improvements. He said TBD funds have helped leverage roughly $3.6 million in grants and supported about $8.2 million in capital projects to date. He described current and near‑term projects such as Interstate Avenue sidewalk completion and a larger downtown rejuvenation effort with an estimated TBD contribution of $4.1 million.
During the public comment period, a resident (identified in the record as a private citizen) said he was heartened that most TBD money appears to go to road maintenance rather than new capital, but urged the council to address safety issues at the Walmart exit on Louisiana, improve Market Boulevard as part of pinch‑point work and repair a rough stretch of 3rd Street that he said regularly damages vehicles. "Please do something about 3rd Street," the resident said.
Sheena told the council she was not asking for an action at the hearing but would consider public testimony and prepare a resolution for consideration to place a TBD sales‑tax renewal on an upcoming ballot. The city will take questions when the resolution is formally before the council.
