Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Voters to approve 1/10th of 1% sales tax increase
COLFAX — Whitman County voters will decide on a 1/10 of 1% sales tax increase for emergency communications on the November ballot.
Whitman County commissioners confirmed the action Monday, which would go to pay for equipment including Whitcom consoles, two radio towers, and more.
“The need is critical,” said Bill Tensfeld, county emergency management director.
The radio towers are estimated to cost $1.1 million each.
“We need a couple to get a little more redundancy in our system,” Tensfeld said.
The measure would pay for first-responder radios.
“The radios are now no more than glorified computers with five to 10-year lifespans,” Tensfeld said.
In 2019, the state legislature approved an additional 1/10 of 1% sales tax may be sought on ballots for emergency communications.
Whitman County was to put the issue before voters last year.
“The pandemic got in the way,” Tensfeld said.
County commissioners moved the ballot from August to the general election to save on costs.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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