PULLMAN – The City of Pullman will accept public comments Tuesday evening on a possible sales tax increase to help fund road maintenance and transportation projects.

The Pullman City Council established a Transportation Benefit District in April of last year. The district’s boundaries correspond to those of the City of Pullman. The City Council serves as the governing body of the TBD.

Washington state law allows the county to increase sales tax to fund transportation projects such as roadwork. Pullman city staff is asking the council, which serves as the county executive, to increase the city’s sales tax by one-tenth of a percent (0.1%). This increase is permitted under state law without voter approval. An additional two-tenths of a percent (0.2%) sales tax increase is permitted with voter approval. This is not currently being requested by city staff.

If approved, the sales tax increase would generate about half a million dollars annually for transportation and roads. The city’s five-year transportation improvement plan includes over $83 million worth of projects that could be funded through the district’s sales tax. The Pullman Transportation Benefit District currently has no source of sales tax funding. If approved, the sales tax increase would take effect on January 1 of next year. The current sales tax rate in Pullman is 7.9%.

The Pullman City Council, which serves as the TBD board, will take public comments on the proposed sales tax increase during its Tuesday evening meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The board will consider potentially approving the sales tax increase at a later meeting.