Thurston County residents face tax increase

Board votes to fund programs for mental health, addiction

By Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published November 04, 2008

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County commissioners voted Monday to increase the sales tax to provide more money to programs that treat offenders who suffer from mental illness and drug addiction.

The tax, which affects all Thurston County residents, will increase from 8.4 percent to 8.5 percent, or another penny in tax for every $10 spent on taxable goods and services. The tax increase is expected to raise $4.4 million a year.

The county has provided general goals but no specifics at this time on how the money would be spent. A planning committee will review recommendations from the county staff on how to spend the money before final approval by county commissioners no later than June 30. The county will collect, but not spend, the money until that time. An oversight committee will ensure the money is spent on programs that get results.

Commissioners approve of a recommendation by Chief Administrative Officer Don Krupp to budget $607,000 from the tax next year to plan for a way to assess all adult offenders brought to the jail, to restore and enhance in-custody treatment at the jail and to possibly expand drug court, which provides treatment in lieu of jail time.

The county must be careful in how it spends the money from the increased tax. The state law that authorized the tax increase forbids counties from using the new revenue to replace, or supplant, lost revenue for existing programs in most cases.

The restriction is especially pertinent to the county as it looks to close a $4.3 million budget shortfall next year. Its criminal justice system is poised to take the brunt of the impending cuts.

The county will lobby state lawmakers next session to amend the 2005 law to remove the restriction. Failing that, officials say they will draft a plan to spend the money in a way that doesn't violate the law.

"It's not a problem," Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney Ed Holm said. "If we thought it was a problem, we wouldn't have brought it to you in this way."

But those assurances didn't ease the concerns of Commissioner Diane Oberquell, who voted no. Commissioners Bob Mcleod and Cathy Wolfe approved the tax.

Oberquell, who leaves office in January, voiced strong support for the offender programs but said the restriction in the state law is probably the "biggest stumbling block."

"I cannot vote for a tax when we do not have the exact plan and how we're going to spend that money," she said. "I'm a fiscal conservative, I guess."

The commissioners' vote occurred after a public hearing where more than 20 people lauded the programs, which they characterized as life-changing and cost-effective. No one testified against the tax increase.

"I would pay a lot more to get to see other people given this opportunity," said Michael Anderson, one of more than a half-dozen current and former offenders in Thurston County Drug Court, which provides treatment in lieu of jail time.

The county estimated the court saved more than $300,000 last year that otherwise would have been spent on jail beds and community supervision for offenders.

In 2007, according to the county, 80 percent of the people arrested or jailed in Thurston County suffered from mental illness or drug or alcohol addiction that contributed to their crime.

Liz Lyman said few issues bring the public's wrath more than an increased tax.

"It's a politically courageous thing to do, and I applaud your bravery," she said.

Christian Hill covers Lacey and Thurston County for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5427 or at chill@theolympian.com.