Island County commissioners are considering imposing a new public safety sales tax to help balance the 2026 budget in the face of skyrocketing public defense costs and other funding challenges.

The one-tenth of 1% sales tax, if adopted, would generate about $1.9 million a year, according to Island County Budget Manager Susan Geiger. It would increase the sales tax rate in unincorporated Island County to 8.9%.

On Wednesday, the commissioners, the prosecutor, the chief civil deputy prosecutor, the sheriff and Geiger discussed House Bill 2015, which was signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson earlier this year. The law allows counties and cities to impose the new tax without going to voters, provided the jurisdictions meet certain eligibility requirements.

The purpose of the tax is to improve

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