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Ruston council adopts 0.1% public-safety sales tax to qualify for state grant funding
Summary
The City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 1603 to impose a 0.1% sales-and-use tax to fund criminal-justice purposes and to make Ruston eligible for a $125,000 state grant; councilmembers emphasized compliance steps and future evaluation metrics.
Ruston’s City Council voted 5-0 on March 17 to adopt Ordinance No. 1603, allowing the city to impose a 0.1% public-safety sales-and-use tax and to pursue a related state grant program. The ordinance, passed on its second reading, was presented with staff guidance on statutory compliance and grant eligibility requirements under ESHB 20151.
City staff told the council that the tax is expected to generate approximately $50,000 annually for local criminal-justice uses and would make Ruston eligible to apply for a $125,000 grant. Chief of Police Nestor Bautista briefed the council on compliance steps the police department must complete — including specific training benchmarks and policy updates — and warned that some requirements (notably training) mean the department will not be fully qualified until August. The council heard that the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) has 45 days to verify a submission and that, if deficiencies remain unresolved within 180 days, the State Treasurer may withhold $100,000 per month from proceeds until the city achieves compliance.
Councilmember Jensen said the primary benefit is access to grant funds and urged diligence to meet August compliance steps. Councilmember Wilson supported adoption while asking the council to set clear performance metrics and a process for post-implementation evaluation. Councilmember Hedrick moved to adopt Ordinance 1603; Councilmember Syler seconded, and the motion passed 5-0.
The ordinance authorizes the city to submit documentation to the CJTC and to begin collecting the tax on the next allowable effective date (sales-tax rate changes may take effect only on Jan. 1, April 1, or July 1, and must be noticed to the Department of Revenue at least 75 days in advance). The council’s action makes Ruston eligible to apply for the grant and begins a documented compliance process that city staff will administer.
