Greetings Everyone,
The Tacoma City Council will consider Ordinance 28747 at their Tuesday, March 23 5pm Council meeting. This ordinance is to adopt a sales tax of 1/10th of 1% for affordable housing. This would provide about $5 Million/year for affordable housing. This $5M would leverage another $48 Million annually and create an estimated 160 housing units each year.
Yes, it is a tax. But it is a tax of one penny on every eligible purchase of ten dollars. We do not tax food in Washington State.
The Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness has already sent one letter in support at the time of the presentation to Council during a Study Session.
We will send another in support of the ordinance.
I encourage those of you who work or live in Tacoma and especially those of you who cannot find housing for your unsheltered clients or even for yourselves to attend the March 23 Council meeting and speak in support or if you cannot attend, to send an email or call the Mayor and Council Members.
The housing professionals will describe the technical aspects of this ordinance. Our job is to help the Mayor and Council understand what 160 new housing units every year for the next twenty years would mean.
Think about it: this ordinance is a chance for 160 households to actually have housing every single year.
If you work for a nonprofit organization, ask your leadership to speak or write in support of this ordinance.
These are some of the supporters:
Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce
● Tacoma Public Schools.
● Washington Housing Finance Commission.
● Low Income Housing Institute.
● Horizon Housing.
● Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority.
● Tacoma Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness.
● Tacoma Housing Authority.
PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the time set aside for public comment on Resolutions and first and final reading of Ordinances. Speakers are asked to identify the specific legislation they wish to address. Comments will not be accepted on Ordinances forwarded to the City Council by the Hearing Examiner for which a public hearing has already been held. On tonight’s agenda that includes Ordinance Nos. 28679, 28745, and 28746.
To request to speak during Public Comment, please press the Raise Hand button near the bottom of your Zoom window or *9 on your phone. Your name or the last four digits of your phone number will be called out when it is your turn to speak.
The City Council meeting can be heard by dialing 253-215-8782 or through Zoom at www.zoom.us/j/84834233126 and entering the Meeting ID 848 3423 3126 and Passcode 349099, when prompted.
Written comments may be submitted to cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org every Tuesday before 4:00 p.m. prior to that evening's City Council meeting for the Public Comment period. Comments will be compiled and sent to the City Council and posted on the City's webpage at cityoftacoma.org/written comments.
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES
13. ORD28747
An ordinance amending Chapter 6A.70 of the Municipal Code, relating to
Local Option Taxes, by adding Section 6A.70.041 entitled “Additional sales or use tax for housing and related services-Imposition” and Section 6A.70.042 entitled “Additional sales or use tax
for housing and related services - Rate,” and amending Section 6A.70.120 relating to “Administration and collection of taxes” to authorize the maximum capacity of the tax authorized under the provisions of House Bill 1590 for housing and related services.
[Jeff Robinson, Director, Community and Economic Development]
Attachments: Ordinance
No. 28747
City Council Action Memorandum
Thanks everyone,
Maureen
Maureen Howard