Bill Makes Sales Tax Hike Option To Fund Juvenile Jail

Spokane voters may again be asked to raise taxes to pay for a bigger juvenile jail, thanks to last-minute legislation approved by state lawmakers Wednesday.

But this time, the hike could be in sales taxes, rather than the property tax increases that were rejected three times in the last three years by local voters.

The legislation approved Wednesday would allow counties to ask for a sales tax increase of one tenth of a cent to pay for juvenile or adult jails.

Spokane County officials say they probably will ask voters to consider the tax hike, although no definite plans have been made.

“As long as it’s voter-approved, I absolutely support it,” said county Commissioner Steve Hasson.

Outgoing Commissioner Skip Chilberg agreed.

“I think we need to have all the options possible in front of us to address the problems of juvenile crime,” Chilberg said.

He said local facilities are overburdened due to a boom in crimes committed by young people.

But Sen. James West, R-Spokane, said he opposes giving the county the power to raise taxes.

“The sales tax is high enough already,” West said. He said he also was concerned the bill came up so late in the session, leaving no time for public hearings.

Local voters have shied away from raising property taxes to pay for new jails, but Hasson said the sales tax might have a shot.

“I’d say that it probably has a little bit better chance than a property tax,” Hasson said.

One advantage is that the sales tax increase would only require a simple majority to pass. Property tax hikes require 60 percent approval.

Last November, more than half of county voters were in favor of a property tax increase.

That fell well short of the 60 percent needed to OK the $11 million bond issue that would have more than doubled the size of the Mallon Avenue lockup.

The bill was introduced at the request of Snohomish and Pierce county lawmakers, who say their adult and juvenile jails are overwhelmed.