Walla Walla eyes raising taxes to fund anti-gang program

Published 12:53 pm Wednesday, November 4, 2015

WALLA WALLA — The Walla Walla City Council is considering raising taxes in order to increase anti-gang activity.

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reportsthat the council on Wednesday will consider a proposal to use $169,542 in banked-levy-capacity taxes, as well as take an additional $40,778 in taxes beyond a state mandated cap for the city, to fund more initiatives to combat gang violence.

The cap comes from state law that says cities can increase taxes up to 1 percent or the rate of the Implicit Price Deflator — a measurement of increase in cost of goods and services — and must take the lower of the two.

The council will need a supermajority to pass the resolution of need to fund public safety programs