PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County commissioners approved a 1 percent increase of its general purpose and road fund property tax levies in a 2-1 decision Tuesday.
This year the county levied $7.3 million for the road fund and $10.7 million for the general fund. The increase in both levies next year is a combined $180,000.
Commissioner Bill Peach voted against the tax increase. Based on current values, the tax would cost the owner of a $200,000 home about $2.37, officials said.
Jurisdictions routinely approve 1 percent increases in levies each year, as allowed under state law.
“I don’t have a problem at a later date with a tax increase, but not until I see there’s been some kind of income increase for the average worker on the West End,” Peach said in an interview.
“We’ve seen the market improve, but you’d never know it if you went to the West End and looked at job openings and pay out there.”
Commissioner Randy Johnson said Tuesday the 1 percent increase isn’t enough to keep the county on track with increasing costs due to inflation.
He said he was in favor of the increase and spoke about how Clallam County is the only county in the state that still has reserves.
“So many other counties that we have have to borrow from the road fund to make payroll,” Johnson said. “We need the increase of at least 1 percent a year unless we start cutting back.”
Commissioner Mark Ozias echoed Johnson’s comments.
“There are a number of vital county functions, many of them unfunded at the state level,” Ozias said. “We can choose to make drastic reductions over the course of time and not provide the level of service people expect … but it would be difficult to be a preferred employee over the long term if we don’t take steps as painful as they are.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
