| Clallam County passes second real estate tax September 29th, 2004 (Port Angeles, WA) -- Clallam County Commissioners have passed a resolution enacted a second real estate excise tax. The new ordinance will take effect in ten days and will add a second excise tax of a one quarter of one percent -- adding to the current a quarter of a percent tax on real estate sales in Clallam County. County Commissioner Steve Tharinger says last year the additional amount would have generated about $750,000.00. Commissioners say the money collected from the tax increase could be used for road, sewer and water projects, as well as county park improvements. However, state law will not allow the county to acquire lands for parks through the second real estate excise tax. The county has signed a $20,000.00 contract with Brown and Caldwell for a feasibility study on a sewer line that would run into the Urban Growth Area east of Port Angeles. The 2 month study will also look into the possibility of running a sewer line from Sequim into the Carlsborg area. RELATED STORY: Clallam County OKs second real estate excise tax 2004-09-29 by
BRIAN GAWLEY A second one-quarter of 1 percent real estate excise tax was approved Tuesday by Clallam County commissioners following a public hearing. The tax, which applies to real estate sales, will be collected starting in 10 days. It won't apply to transfers by gift, inheritance, divorce or deed in lieu of foreclosure of a mortgage. The new tax is expected to generate between $400,000 and $700,000 a year for projects listed in the county's six-year transportation plan and 10-year capital projects plan. The money also can used for infrastructure projects approved by the commissioners that are proposed by another government to be built an unincorporated part of the county. It is the county's second one-quarter of 1 percent excise tax. Another
one-quarter of 1 percent excise already is in place. RELATED STORY: Commissioners to hear opinions over real estate tax hike 9/28/04 Commissioners are expected to face more hostility Tuesday as local realtors rally to block a move to raise the county’s Real Estate Excise Tax. Clallam County already charges a tax on real estate sales. But commissioners are considering whether add a second quarter percent to tap into some revenue from the county’s present growth spurt. Realtors have blasted the idea saying it will further impact the availability of affordable housing because those costs will just get passed along to home buyers. But county leaders point out that the county doesn’t charge developers impact fees and needs to find a way to raise money for improvements to handle the growth. That public hearing will take place during the commissioner’s regular meeting Tuesday morning at 10:30am.
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