Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
July 14, 2011     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 6     (6 of 14 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 6     (6 of 14 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
July 14, 2011
 
Newspaper Archive of Shelton Mason County Journal produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




Cit00, pursues public safety sales tax By NATALIE JOHNSON In an effort to provide more stable, long-term funding for public safety, the City of Shelton has since February been developing a plan for a city or countywide public safety sales tax increase. Earlier this month, Shelton Mayor John Tarrant stood before the Mason County Commissioners and asked them to consider adding the tax to the November ballot. Tarrant spoke before the county commission for a second time Tuesday morning and asked the commissioners to consider placing the three-tenths of one percent tax on the November ballot. "I'm back today not to bug you but remind you," Tarrant said. During last year's budget process, city staff struggled to balance the need to make budget cuts without cutting public safety. While the city's final 2011 budget did not include extensive cuts to the police department several drafts involved cutting at least one police officer position. With about a quarter of a million dollars in grants to the police department set to run out, City Administrator Dave O'Leary said that the city needs to look at all its options to preserve public safety. "It's impossible at this moment to make cuts without touching public safety," he said. "The recession has really pitched us into the ditch." While Tarrant has at several points noted that adding new taxes is a politically unpopular move, he and O'Leary said that the proposed tax increase would at the least make up for any lost grants, and at the most, allow the police department to build itself back up to previous levels. "I realize that we have great financial challenges in our county and still do. Our public is shy of anything that even smacks of a tax increase," Tarrant said to the commissioners Tuesday. "Mason County as well as the City of Shelton is faced with the issue of grants that are going away that are keeping officers on the streets of the city and the county." While some people are vocally opposed to any new taxes, one Shelton resident spoke in approval of the tax on Tuesday. "I've been a victim of crime in my neighborhood for 12 months since I moved into town," Joseph Coleman said. "We do not have sufficient police and we need to do something about it. A tax would be a start in the right direction." O'Leary said there are several ways to pursue the sales tax increase. In the first option, the city would al6ne institute the increase at the maximum rate of one-tenth of one percent, which the city predicts would yield $177,000 in revenue that would be dedicated to public safety within the city. O'Leary said that this option would be an adequate short-term solution. "It'll replace one round of expiring grants," he said. "It would shield us from the losses for a period of time." In the second option however, the option Tarrant is advocating with the county, the county would institute the sales tax at a maximum rate of three- tenths of one percent. This would yield about $573,000 for the city and about $860,000 in public safety money for the county. Commissioner Lynda Ring Erickson said Tuesday that the county had discussed the possibility of a public safety sales tax, but that she wasn't convinced that it was a good deal for the county. "Under state law it would give the City of Shelton 40 percent of the tax. The city is not 40 percent of the county," she said. "It's not that I'm not supportive of law enforcement ... I'm reluctant to propose an increase in taxes." A third option involves the city implementing the sales tax before the county does. Under that scenario, the city would collect about $666,594 and the county would collect about $765,362. Commissioner Lingle, a former City of Shelton police officer expressed interest in the tax. "Personally, being a former police officer, I understand the necessity of having police officers on the street," he said. "As far as the three-tenths of one percent tax, I stand in favor of it." Journal photo by Natalie Johnson. County Commissioner Lynda Ring Erickson said she would oppose a county-wide public safety sales tax. In any option the proposed tax increase would have to be brought before the voters. "If the county hops on board with it and lets the voters choose ... I think it would benefit not only the city but the county too," Tarrant said. The city and county have until August 16 to add the proposed sales tax increase to the November ballot. The city commission may discuss adding it to the ballot themselves under option one. TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY TO0 LATE TO CLASSIFY ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST - Service oriented account- ing position that provides support across range of fiscal operations within So. Puget Intertribal Planning Agency. Desire associate's degree and one year work experi- ence in accounting office or fiscal support setting. Prior experience within NFP pre- ferred. Competitive salary, DOQ, with full benefit pack- age. Complete job descrip- tion and application package at www.spipa.org or call 360- 426-3990. Screening begins 7/26/11. Open until filled. $7/14-21 WATERFRONT: ORCHARD Beach split level. Spacious, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, rec. room, woodstove in living room. Good condition. Shop area. Large deck partially covered and patio. 2-car carport with storage shed. Fenced back- yard $1,225 per month plus deposit. Shirley, RE/MAX Top Executives. 360-427-4488. D7/14 GARAGE SALE. 300 SE Shadowood Dr., Cole Rd. Sat- urday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Clothes, art, home decor, computer games, furniture and kids' stuff. C7/14 LARGE MULTI-FAMILY yard sale with lots of items. RE/ MAX parking lot, 2008 Olym- pic Hwy. N. Look for the bal- loon. Saturday, 9 a.m-4 p.m. B7/14 ESTATE SALE, everything goes. Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 pm. 1639 W. Railroad, Shelton. B7/14 SATURDAY, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. No early birds. Lots of baby clothes and items. Custom wheels, glassware, dishes, Ab-Lounger, lots of miscella- neous. 970 E. Ballentrae Dr., Lake Limerick. W7/14 MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE sale. Juluy 16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Bayshore neighborhood off Hwy. 3, just south of Bay- shore Golf Course. Mc7/14 BEAUTIFUL AND spacious duplex for rent. 1,200 sq.ft., 2 bedroom, 1 bath. Home in- cludes garage and yard. Rent $725. 206-396-7307. P7/14- 8/4 TAKING APPLICATIONS for cashier/clerk, age 21 plus. Evenings, weekends. De- pendable, responsible, loves people, hard working. Apply at, or mail to, Matlock Gen- eral Store, 17490 W. Shelton- Matlock Rd., PO Box 129, Matlock, WA 98560. Info: ask for Lori, 360-426-6806 before noon. M7/14-21 471 PENZANCE, Lake Lim- erick, Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Lots of baby girl clothes, equipment, toys. All quality stuff. TV, rocking chair, household items. G7/14 MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE sale. Baby's, kid's and adult's clothing. DVDs, furniture, housewares, guns, lots more. 205 E. Springfield Loop, Fri- day-Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. $7/14 Q2." "Dad sits at home all day while m at work. I'm afraid that he's just wasting away. He can't do the things he used to do and his friends are gone, but he'd never go to a nursing home. What can I do?" A: For less than the cost of the nursing home, your dad can live with friends his age at Alpine Way. Activities will keep him busy and happy. He can go for van rides, enjoy events like Music in the Park and Lion's Club Tneatre, go fishing, or stay in to play cards and shoot the breeze about the good old days. All activities are optional, so if he'd like some quiet time, he has his own private apartment for relaxation. If someone you know is stuck at home, come and tour Alpine Way. We'd love to treat you to lunch, show you our lovely apartments, and answer all your questions. Call Kathy Burbidge at (360) 426-2600 for a free lunch and tour 900 West Alpine Way Shelton, WA 98584 @ RETIREMENT APARTMENTS, ASSISTED LIVING AND ALZHEIMER'S SPECIAL CARE www.encorecommumties.com Page A-6 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, July 14, 2011 Micto$oft" ...:.:.:. Go to MyMasonHealth.com for medical histories Strong bones... for longer wear. Dexo scans o men and women. Detecting early signs of osteoporosis can help reduce the risk of bone fracture. Along with exercise, calcium, vitamin D, and a bone density screening at MGH you are in good shape to play. Get your physician referral today. Covered by most insurances for patients at risk. Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics (360) 427-9590, Option 3 901 Mtn. View Drive, Shelton, WA 98584 wwwMasonGeneral.com. m m Printed in Shelton, WA, USA JJ using US-made ink and US-made newsprint with the highest percentage of recycled content in the industry. Printed With: Thank you for recycling. SOY INK