Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Olympia City Council is weighing whether to adopt a new local sales tax to support public safety, a move that could also unlock millions in state grant funding for hiring police officers and co-responders.
Through House Bill 2015, the Washington Legislature granted cities and counties additional authority and revenue options to cover the costs of public safety.
At a city council study session on Tuesday, Aug. 19, Finance Director Mike Githens discussed new funding mechanisms for cities and counties provided in the HB 2015, which was enacted in July.
Unlike some tax measures that expire after a set period, Githens said the proposed 0.1% public sales tax would be a permanent addition to Olympia's revenue stream.
"The Legislature heard from cities and counties in particular that if this is levied in a jurisdiction, that goes completely to that jurisdiction," he said.
If enacted, the city's overall sales tax rate would increase to 9.9%, with the new funds available for a wide range of public safety initiatives.
Olympia's current sales tax rate is 9.8%, with the revenue divided among the state, the city, Thurston County and other local jurisdictions.
According to City Manager Jay Burney, the grant program helps offset the cost of hiring new officers, providing up to $125,000 per officer over three years — a total of $375,000 during the period.
"I thought it was the other way around. We are not eligible for the grant if we don't take advantage of the councilmanic 0.1%," Burney said.
He also noted that, unlike previous public safety sales taxes, Olympia can move forward on its schedule.
Burney added Olympia's share of the new tax would remain unchanged, regardless of whether Thurston County also implements a similar tax. The city would continue to receive the same amount, estimated at $3 million.
In addition, the state requires cities to meet Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) standards to qualify. Those requirements focus on officer training, de-escalation practices, and compliance with updated state laws.
"We are up to date. But there's a standard that has to be met there to qualify," he said.
The council also discussed the process and timeline for enacting the tax. Burney noted once the council acts, the CJTC has 45 days to determine the city's eligibility.
"We will be conservative in year one about how much revenue we think we will bring in," Burney said.
He added the city would plan for a full year of revenue in subsequent years.
Burney said the grants are specifically for law enforcement officers, but the 0.1% sales tax is for public safety and alternative services.
"It can be fire, including alternative services, homeless response is also listed as within that realm. It is a lot broader and gives us more opportunities in terms of what we can fund with it," he said.
Council member Robert Vanderpool raised questions about whether the new tax revenue could be used to support positions in the Crisis Response Unit or Medic One, particularly to help offset potential losses from Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements.
Burney said staff are still evaluating the possibilities and will return to the council with a detailed proposal on how the funds could be allocated to address the city's public safety needs.
City officials are aiming to enact the tax by mid-October, which would trigger a 45-day review period.
A staff report states to ensure the new sales tax takes effect by Jan. 1, 2026, the city must approve the ordinance by Oct. 18. If the deadline is missed, the tax would instead begin on April 1, 2026, resulting in an estimated $1.3 million decrease in projected revenue for that year.
Githens said staff would continue gathering data and plan to return soon with final recommendations.
"I know it's a big ask to raise this much tax, but as you see the 2026 budget come together. We need revenue options, and these are, you know, the Legislature acted to give us one more additional option," he said.
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USA_Ronin
No new taxes. End of.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Report this
JohnFronono
Complete sentences. Hard.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
This is nothing more than a money grab by the city council. First, they should not be allowed to raise the sales tax on their own - voters should do this via the ballot. Second, why should the City of Olympia hire more officers that will be hamstrung by the City from doing real policing like they are now. Third, the temporary funding for this will go away in three years and the taxpayers will be forced to cough up additional money to fund more police who are not allowed to do real policing, just like today. This is a wolf in sheep’s clothing no matter how you look at it.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Report this
Bobwubbena
Jay, please provide a summary of the last ten years of special votes/funding/taxes that have been approved for City staff and special public safety and other "services". Please list the "voters' pamphlet that supported the vote, the outcome, and the current status. The request for new taxes keeps creeping up without full accountability of old, new and future budget crises. A better summary of past, present and new requests is needed. Otherwise, the answer should be NO> I thought we recently approved a "public safety tax" What happened those funds??
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Report this
CrazyGranny
NO. MORE. TAXES!! Do I have to spell it out for you?!? I live on less than $1K a month and as it is, I can't afford luxuries like paper towels and toilet paper unless I find a really great sale on them. Keep it up and I won't be able to afford them at all - guess I'll have to move in with one of you guys!!
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Report this
BettyVerdammt
The city manager and council just completely cut the city's court to reduce costs and toss the riff-raff to the county courts. Now, they want to raise taxes to go on a police hiring spree. Could these so-called progressive politicians be building a streets-to-prison pipeline through the more rightwing Thurston County District Court? Could be. Aren't elections coming up?
Thursday, August 21, 2025 Report this
OlyBlues
The city through zero effort of their own and riding on the coattails of the Sheriff now receives a large percentage of the county-wide public safety sales tax. The city of Olympia has chosen to use these funds mostly to pay for new electric police vehicles to comply with the city's climate goals rather than more police officers or anything driven by common sense. Enough taxes! The city has a homeless tax an arts tax, and the already receives a public safety tax. It will never be enough for their greed and insatiable desire to tax residents to death. Such horrible leadership at the city.
Thursday, August 21, 2025 Report this
jimLacey
In summary, the state will give Olympia money for this, even though a few months ago, we were being told that Washington was deep in the red and had to come up with a ridiculous set of new taxes to overcome that. And to be eligible to receive this money, Olympia also has to raise its own taxes. I can think of all kinds of NSFW expressions to describe that.
Thursday, August 21, 2025 Report this
LindaD
We don’t need more cops. If we were getting more EMTs then I would fully support it.
Thursday, August 21, 2025 Report this
36098501
Lets not forget the Council is also rebuilding the narrative from 2006 to create another tax to fund sidewalks again . In 2006, this resulted in the most regressive 3% tax on Utilities (1% for Sidewalks, 2% for Parks) - a tax on a necessity for everyday living on all members of the Community but hurting those who can least afford it the most.
Just as any tax increase is today, this was certainly counter to the Council narrative at the time of a focus on affordability of living in Olympia.
It isn't that these aren't good areas for improvement. The question should be how the Community can better allocate current tax revenue and build that tax revenue by expanding the local economy to generate more tax revenue rather than taking the easy path of simply increasing taxes rates to gather more revenue.
Increasing taxes creates an affordability problem impacting the entire community. As an activist City Council by choice, many of the fundamental elements of running the City lack transparency, get overlooked, lack rigorous debate or public discussion. These topics and decisions are hidden by unanimous 7-0 votes for the Consent Calendar.
This legislative approach, along with a lack of districts and Council Member diversity, makes accountability of any specific Council Member to the voters difficult to nearly impossible.
As the City creates more taxes, regulation, bureaucracy and cost, it crowds out business and investment. These create the engine by which the City generates its tax revenue. More importantly, they create opportunity for the Community. Less business. Less housing. Fewer jobs. Higher cost of living.
This is a direct path to unintended consequences.
Businesses aren't trapped in Olympia. They can choose to leave. See Toyota of Olympia (now located in Tumwater) for a view into the future of how these short term perceived wins by the Council are cumulative long term losses for the City. See Habitat for Humanity (a non profit with free land, volunteer labor, donated materials) that can't get affordable housing projects to pencil. Offsite improvements required to bring substandard City infrastructure that the City has chosen not to maintain to standards is quite the literal road block for many projects.
It isn't that the City Council is headed in the wrong direction, it is that they aren't headed in any specific direction. The uncertainty makes any future long term investment in Olympia very risky. That characteristic doesn't bode well for building a strong, affordable and cohesive Community.
Thursday, August 21, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
To previous post by 36098501, I think you deserve a big thank you for your comments. Well said and true. Only thing I would differ with you on is I believe the City Council IS headed in the wrong direction. They are like all government entities - spending money with no accountability or transparency. They search for money to take and spend anyway and anywhere they can get it. It should also be pointed out that the article stated the funds they are seeking with the increased sales tax fall into a pot that has a much wider definition to spend than just hiring police officers - fire, homeless, alternative services, etc. Councilman Vanderpool is seeking to stretch the limits by including Medicaid, Medicare, and god only knows what else. Just what we don’t need - more giveaways to social programs!
Thursday, August 21, 2025 Report this
36098501
The Virtual One. I agree with you. You are correct. Poor phrasing on my part.
The challenge is finding a path to a solution.
I think it is past time for the Community to transition to Districts for electing City Council members rather than at large elections for the full Council. There are many benefits to this approach given the growth and diversity of the City.
Switching to District-based elections would make the City Council more diverse, encourage neighborhood-level accountability, and give a voice and fair representation for all communities within a City.
Lower barriers for candidates: Campaign costs are lower for district races since candidates only need to reach voters in one part of the City, which could lead to more candidates from diverse backgrounds entering the process and a Council that better reflects the City's full population.
Improved representation and accountability. Residents would know exactly who to contact when they have concerns, and Council members are more likely to be responsive to the specific needs of their District. This localized representation can ensure that every neighborhood or community in the city has a voice in government decisions.
Enhanced democratic participation: District elections typically result in higher voter engagement because residents feel more directly connected to and represented by their
Just a conversation starter in an effort to get things in the Community headed back in the right direction.
Friday, August 22, 2025 Report this
LindaD
More cops doesn't necessarily mean more safety. Let's bill this honestly. It's about more cops on the payroll. If it all went to co-responders and EMTs I'd support it 100%. I imagine the bulk will go to more cops.
Friday, August 29, 2025 Report this