Longview OKs nonexpiring sales tax to fund police, public defenders

The Longview City Council approved on Thursday a second public safety sales tax, but not before councilmembers had extensive discussions about their views on taxation before all but one approved the nonexpiring rate increase.

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The new 0.1% sales tax will go into effect on Jan. 1, where it will be used to help the city hire three new police officers, hire an evidence technician and help offset rising costs for public defenders expected across the state, according to Longview City Manager Jennifer Wills.

"This is not something that's lining a pocket - it's an enhancement," Wills told the council at the meeting. "This isn't just a tax to try to bring money into the community, it's actually to make our community more safe."

The new tax will add a penny to every $10 purchase in the city.

Mayor Erick Halvorson was the sole councilmember to voice opposition to the "councilmatic" public safety sales tax. He touched on impacts it would have to local businesses such as car dealerships, and among other concerns, Halvorson noted that "the economy has changed" in the two years since voters passed an earlier law enforcement sales tax in November 2024.

Instead, Halvorson advocated for voting down the proposal and drafting a resolution for an advisory vote, giving residents a direct say.

Mayor Pro-tem Keith Young, another fiscally conservative-leaning councilmember, voted to support the increase.

"Of all the ways to increase revenue, the least impactful for direct residents would be a sales tax because now you're including those from out of the area that spend money here," Young said. "You're sharing the load more than it would impacting property taxes or some sort of a rate for service increase."

"I really like this approach," Young added.

Councilmember Mike Claxton appealed to the council's priorities of fiscal responsibility in advocating for the sales tax. He said not taking steps now to address public defender costs down the line could have ripple effects.

"If we don't take steps now, we're going to find out that it starts crowding out a bunch of other things that we do as a city," Claxton said.

Sales taxes are typically decided by voters, such as the law enforcement levy voters passed in 2024, but the proposal on the table Thursday stemmed from House Bill 2015 passed by the Legislature last year.

Under HB 2015, the sales tax increase also makes special law enforcement grant programs available for administration through the state Criminal Justice Training Commission. Huhta told the council that the grants were expected to open in May but were not yet available as of Thursday.

According to a news report from December, the legislation gives the council a window of opportunity to pass a nonexpiring public safety sales tax, stacking on top of the voter-approved tax. City councils have until June 2028 to vote on the sales tax increase, which would last in perpetuity.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 6:34 PM.