HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1997-040WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 97 -274
__EARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Office:
Agenda date
Assigned to:
Originator:
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Finance / Council
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor: Randall J. Watts
_
Executive: Pete Kremen
II
SUBJECT.•
Providing the Whatcom County Electorate with the Opportunity to Implement a Sales Tax Enhancement for Corrections
and advise the County Council of its Majority Desire regarding Implementation of a Sales Tax Enhancement for County -
Wide Criminal Justice Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Proposed Resolution
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
nest Council Approval
Please complete sections of box as appropriate & explain the item below.
Related County contract #:
Should Clerk schedule a hearing? NO /_/ YES / / Requested date:
Amount budgeted for this item /project:$
Is it (or will it be) within budget? YES / / NO / / (Please explain below)
Budget line item number(s):
ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approval of Resolution Providing the Whatcom County Electorate with the opportunity to Implement a Sales Tax
Enhancement for Corrections and Advise the County Council of its Majority Desire regarding Implementation of a Sales
Tax Enhancement for County -Wide Criminal Justice Services
COMMITTEE ACTION TAKEN:
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN.
7 - 274 7/29/97: Approved 6 - 0, Sutter absent. Res. #97 -040 fiance or Resolution Number (this item only):
SPONSORED BY: Nelson/Dawson
PROPOSED BY: Consent
INTRODUCTION DATE: 7112g/97
RESOLUTION NO: 97 -040
PROVIDING WHATCOM COUNTY VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT
A SALES TAX FOR CORRECTIONS AND ADVISE THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ITS
DESIRE TO IMPLEMENT A SALES TAX FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES
WHEREAS, the provision of effective law enforcement and public safety services are of the
highest priority of the Executive, County Council and the public; and
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Executive empowered a select citizen's panel to conduct
a comprehensive study of the County's criminal justice services for the purpose of determining
appropriate program, budget and funding priorities for Administrative and Legislative consideration;
and
WHEREAS, the Executive's Blue Ribbon Panel on Criminal Justice recommended that the
question of implementing two available local option sales taxes to provide funding to enhance law
and justice services and additional jail and incarceration options be submitted to the county
electorate during the next general election; and
WHEREAS, the County lacks sufficient funding from other available revenue sources to
provide for additional law and justice or corrections funding or program enhancements needed to
maintain adequate levels of public safety; and
WHEREAS, the County's criminal justice officials have engaged in extensive strategic and
budgetary planning efforts to develop comprehensive Law and Justice and Corrections plans that
clearly demonstrate the need for and commitment of additional enhancement funding; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate for the taxpayers of Whatcom County to express
their will by vote regarding the increase in local sales taxes for the purpose of providing additional
funding for dedicated law enforcement and public safety services;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that We, the Whatcom County Council, do hereby
believe that in the public interest to place the One Tenth of One Percent Local Sales Tax for
Criminal Justice, as provided for in RCW 82.14.340 to an advisory vote of the County Electorate
for the purpose of determining the public's desire to enhance law and justice services throughout
Whatcom County and its municipalities;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that We, the Whatcom County Council believe it to be in
the public interest to place the One Tenth of One Percent Local Sales Tax for Corrections, as
provided for in RCW 82.14.350, to a vote of the County Electorate for the purpose of determining
the public will for the enhancement of incarceration and corrections options.
BE IT NOW FINALLY RESOLVED, that the County Executive is hereby authorized and
requested to initiate the appropriate action necessary to ensure the formulation and placement of the
two local option sales tax issues on the ballot before the County Electorate during the November 4th,
1997 general election.
Approved this 29 day of July , 1997.
ATTEST:
Clerk of the Council
Dana-Brown -Davis
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
andall J. Watts, f
Chief Civil Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY,
WASHINGTON
L. Ward Ne son, Chair
() APPROVED
Signature not needed.
Pete Kremen, County Executive
Date: